The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7456 p699
16 June 2007

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Study of isradipine in mice could lead to future treatment for Parkinson’s disease

Calcium channel blockers may form the basis of future therapy that protects brain cells from changes thought to lead to Parkinson's disease, research published online this week indicates (Nature, 10 June 2007).

Researchers examined the effect of isradipine — a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker — on calcium channels of cells in the substantia nigra of mice. The way in which the firing of these cells is regulated changes with age and the researchers found that isradipine caused these cells to behave as younger cells do, making them less vulnerable to factors thought to contribute to the disease.

This “rejuvenation” protected neurons in both in vitro and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease and points, they say, to a new strategy that could slow or stop disease progression.