PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Fluofarma set up a toolbox to support drug discovery projects targeting Parkinson's disease and related disorders. On one hand, we offer to identify and characterize neuroprotective compounds in predictive in vitro models of Parkinson's disease, based on primary neuronal cultures. On the other hand, we developed capacities for the assessment of in vivo drug efficacy and mechanism of action, combining behavioral tests and automated tissue imaging.

Neurite outgrowth impairment in in vitro pharmacological models of Parkinson’s disease is a relevant model to assess the degeneration of the nigro-striatal pathway.

Our strategy to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of drug candidates acting upstream of dopaminergic neuronal loss comprises:

> A predictive cellular model: Primary rat mesencephalic culture in microplate format

> Pharmacological treatment: 6-OHDA or rotenone, to induce neurite degeneration

> Quantification of neuritic growth level in the DA neuron population by high-content imaging

Through our mother company PORSOLT, expert in parkinsonism and related disorders, we offer to assess the in vivo efficacy of neuroprotective compounds.

Following behavioral and cognitive tests, we offer to analyze brain tissues at the single-cell level using automated tissue imaging, so as to understand the molecular underpinnings of compounds' effects:

> Automated high-content analysis of brain tissues (biomarker quantification with subcellular resolution)