Acupuncture Alleviates Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia via Melanin-Concentrating Hormone in Pitx3-Deficient aphakia and 6-Hydroxydopamine-Lesioned Mice.

Although L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is currently the most effective medication for treating Parkinson's disease (PD) motor symptoms, its prolonged administration causes several adverse effects, including dyskinesia. To identify the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), antidyskinetic effects of acupuncture were investigated in two mouse models of PD. Acupuncture stimulation at GB34 alleviated abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in Pitx3-deficient aphakia mice (ak/ak) following L-DOPA administration and these effects were reproduced in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned mice with LID. A transcriptome analysis of the hypothalamus revealed pro-melanin-concentrating hormone (Pmch) gene was highly expressed in acupuncture-treated mouse from ak/ak model of LID as well as 6-OHDA model of LID. Acupuncture combined with the administration of MCH receptor antagonist did not have any beneficial effects on dyskinesia in L-DOPA-injected ak/ak mice, but the intranasal administration of MCH attenuated LID to the same degree as acupuncture in both ak/ak and 6-OHDA mice with LID. A gene expression profile with a hierarchical clustering analysis of the dyskinesia-induced ak/ak mouse brain revealed an association between the mechanisms underlying acupuncture and MCH. Additionally, altered striatal responses to L-DOPA injection were observed after prolonged acupuncture and MCH treatments, which suggests that these treatment modalities influenced the compensatory mechanisms of LID. In summary, present study demonstrated that acupuncture decreased LID via hypothalamic MCH using L-DOPA-administered ak/ak and 6-OHDA mouse models and that MCH administration resulted in novel antidyskinetic effects in these models. Thus, acupuncture and MCH might be valuable therapeutic candidates for PD patients suffering from LID.

Central corneal thickness and glaucoma in aphakic and pseudophakic children.

BACKGROUND: The risk of glaucoma among aphakic children is as high as 32%, based primarily on intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Although IOP may be falsely elevated by increased central corneal thickness, central corneal thickness (CCT) values have not been reported in this population. METHODS: Patients from the practices of 2 pediatric ophthalmologists and 2 glaucoma specialists had measurements of CCT, IOP, and optic nerve cupping, with visual field analysis when possible. Normal fellow eyes of unilateral aphakes and pseudophakes were included as controls. RESULTS: In 36 aphakic and 6 pseudophakic eyes CCT averaged 660 microns compared with 576 microns for phakic fellow eyes (P < 0.0001). Glaucoma, defined by IOP at least 35 mm Hg or by IOP at least 22 mm Hg associated with optic nerve changes, occurred in 21% of 28 aphakic patients but in no pseudophakic patient. CONCLUSIONS: CCT in aphakic/pseudophakic children is substantially increased compared with control patients. These values may be important in interpreting IOP measurements in these children.