Serotonin Release in Parkinson's Disease.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Serotonergic Neurotransmission in Premotor and Motor Parkinson’s disease.
IRAS ID
279941
Contact name
Marios Politis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Parkinson's disease is characterised by a loss of the dopaminergic cells in specific regions of the brain. Aside from this, other brain cells that produce serotonin are also affected. We do not know how these cells producing serotonin degenerate and behave in Parkinson's disease. In this study we aim to understand how much these cells are degenerated and how much they are able to release serotonin, when prompted. We will use Positron emission tomgoraphy (PET), Single Photon Emission Computerised Tomography (SPECT) to understand what happens in these patients at molecular level in the serotonergic and dopaminergic system, and a substance called dexamphetamine, that is able to induce the release of serotonin from the brain cells, to understand the capacity of these cells to release serotonin, when prompted.
We will do this on two populations: a group of people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (i.e. for which we do not know the cause), and a group of people who carry a genetic mutation able to cause Parkinson's disease (genetic group, both with or without the symptoms of Parkinson's disease).REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0142
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion