Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that manifests itself in the elderly, with an increasing incidence with age. Parkinson's disease is characterized by the accumulation of the protein α-synuclein, which forms aggregates known as Lewy bodies in neurons. This α-synuclein pathology, associated with neurodegeneration, affects both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The aging process is inherently linked to the development of Parkinson's disease.
Fig. 1 The hallmarks of Parkinson's disease. (Dovonou A, et al., 2023)
As a reliable provider of advanced aging-related disease modeling and analytical services, CD BioSciences understands the critical importance of studying the pathology of Parkinson's disease in aging. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing clients with customized Parkinson's disease models to accelerate the development of therapeutics.
Leveraging the exceptional genetic tractability of yeast, CD BioSciences helps clients develop customized Saccharomyces cerevisiae models that integrate mechanisms in Parkinson's disease. Our yeast platform is highly amenable to high-throughput screening and can serve as a powerful discovery tool for identifying novel therapeutic targets and interventions.
CD BioSciences also provides customized C. elegans models for Parkinson's disease and aging research. We can engineer C. elegans strains to express Parkinson's disease-associated proteins. Our experts help clients combine them with age-accelerating genetic modifications or environmental stressors to study the dynamic interplay between signaling pathways in Parkinson's disease and the aging process.
CD BioSciences offers a wide range of customized rodent models of Parkinson's disease, each designed to mimic the hallmarks of aging. Our team of geneticists and animal scientists can generate mice and rats with targeted mutations or expression of Parkinson's disease-associated genes, such as α-synuclein, LRRK2, or Parkin. We also use toxins such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to customize rodent models. Furthermore, we optimize these models to exhibit age-dependent neurodegeneration, motor impairments, and other relevant phenotypes.
We provide customized NHP models reserved for the preclinical evaluation of anti-aging drugs. Our customized NHP models include species such as macaques and common marmosets that can be carefully selected and engineered to develop Parkinson's disease-like symptoms, including resting tremor, bradykinesia, and postural instability. Our NHP models offer unparalleled opportunities to investigate the intersection of Parkinson's disease and senescence by incorporating age-related factors, such as chronic neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Our team of expert scientists has developed a comprehensive suite of analysis services to provide clients with an in-depth understanding of how the aging process influences the various pathological hallmarks and functional deficits associated with Parkinson's disease.
We assess the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease in aged animal models, such as dyskinesia, bradykinesia, and tremor. We utilize behavioral tests, including the rotarod test and open-field test to evaluate motor coordination, balance, and locomotor activity. Our services help clients elucidate the impact of aging on motor function and the progression of Parkinson's disease-related symptoms.
We help clients investigate the age-related changes in neurodegeneration and the accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Utilize immunohistochemistry and staining techniques, our services can visualize and quantify pathological changes (e.g., neuronal loss, Lewy body formation, and inflammation) associated with aging and Parkinson's disease progression.
We help clients study the integrity of the dopaminergic system in Parkinson's disease models by measuring dopamine levels, dopamine transporter activity, and tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the brain. Employing neurochemical analyses, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, our services evaluate dopaminergic function and neurochemical alterations with age in Parkinson's disease models.
At CD BioSciences, we are dedicated to providing clients with advanced and customized Parkinson's disease models to accelerate breakthroughs in aging research. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us or make an online inquiry.
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All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
CD BioScience is a research service provider focused on aging research, specializing in providing research on aging mechanisms, preclinical drug discovery and development, and the development of healthcare and skincare products.
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