PhD conferral Ms Andrea S. Herrera Soto, MD

“Aminochrome, an endotoxin for inducing a new rat model of Parkinson’s Disease”

Double degree of Maastricht University and the University of Chile

Keywords: Parkinson Disease (PD), neurodegeneration, aminochrome, realistic modelling

Parkinson´s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Yet, the exact pathophysiology of neuronal degeneration observed in this disease still remains unknown. Many models (cellular and animal models) have been used to understand explain PD and find the exact mechanism of behind its neurodegeneration. While these models are exogenous and produce a severe Parkinson´s Disease in just a few days or even hours, the development of PD in patients is characterised by a slow progress. In this conferral, the use of an endogenous compound (Aminochrome) is demonstrated. A model with slow progression and a progressive dopaminergic neuronal death is created, which fits more to the reality that patients face.