Overview: Rodent and fish models of Parkinson's disease

This chapter gives an overview of rodent and fish models of Parkinson's disease (PD). The discovery of multiple familial PD genes has led investigators to develop novel methods for studying gene function. A particularly exciting advance is the development transgenic mice using very large stretches of genomic DNA known as bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). A cheaper and rapid method of PD model generation may ultimately be possible using zebrafish, small fish that have a complex euroanatomy including dopaminergic neurons that project to forebrain and control motor activity. This system has many unique advantages, including the possibility of forward genetic screens. It is found that due to their skin and gills are permeable to water soluble chemicals, zebrafish are also amenable to high throughput drug screens. It is suggested that advances made in different animal model and cell-based systems are beginning to synergize, and will likely lead to second- and third-generation models that will further understanding of the biology of these genes, and their potential relationship to one another.