New rotenone model may hold clue to how Parkinson’s develops

from pdonlineresearch:
http://www.pdonlineresearch.org/news...son-s-develops
also: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/

Alpha-synuclein is thought to be a major factor in Parkinson’s, as the nerve cells that die in the brain in Parkinson’s become clogged with sticky clumps of this protein.

Professor Maria Grazia Spillantini, one of the researchers involved from Cambridge University, said: "Although we gave such tiny doses of rotenone that we couldn’t detect it in the blood or brain, we could still see major differences inside mouse nerve cells.
“Interestingly, although cells in the gut and spinal cord were also affected, nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra were worst hit and began to die. This suggests that this group of nerve cells are particularly vulnerable to the build-up of alpha synuclein.”

Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Development at the Parkinson's Disease Society, said: "This new mouse model will tell us more about how Parkinson’s develops and spreads throughout the nervous system. This new research also suggests that environmental factors like pesticides could indeed trigger Parkinson’s in some people.