Involvement of enkephalins and delta-opioid receptors in the expression of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a model of hemiparkinsonian rat

This study was performed to test the involvement of d-opioid receptors in dyskinesia induced by L-DOPA in hemiparkinsonian rats. Our results indicate that endogenous enkephakins modulate the expression of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. It also appears that d-opioid receptors located on corticostriatal terminals could be involved in the development of these dyskinesia. These results confer on d-opioid antagonists interesting properties in the improvement of Parkinson’s disease therapy.