Glutamatergic Compensation After MPTP Lesioning in Mice

Michael W. Jakowec, Ph.D.
The Parkinson Institute

The plasticity of the brain is the subject of Dr. Michael W. Jakowec's studies at USC. Two neurotransmitter systems (dopaminergic and glutamatergic) interact during early development, and he is now trying to show that this interaction returns in later life to repair some of the damage done by neurotoxic injury. Using MPTP-parkinsonian animals, he has shown protein increases in surviving cells, and his work continues in order to learn how these two systems communicate in order to identify therapeutic targets for disease treatment via the promotion of neuroplasticity.


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