Hypothesis: A promising effect of 5-HT1A receptor agonists in alleviating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disease caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra, pars compacta. The fact that serotonergic system is also involved in PD has been raised from previous studies. Drugs that have effect on 5-HT1A receptors of basal ganglia might inhibit and facilitate serotonin and dopamine release, respectively. Augmentation of 5-HT1A agonists (e.g., buspirone) to anti-parkinsonian and neuroleptic drugs (D2 receptor blockers) may increase efficiency of anti-parkinsonian drugs and may also prevent motor complications induced by neuroleptic drugs.