Mitochondrial instability, lack of Erk1/2 activation and high expression of P75NTR in engrailed-deficient mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Kamabiz Nassirpour Alavian

Dissertation Submitted to the Combined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematics of the Ruperto- Carola University of Heidelberg, Germany for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences Presented By Kambiz Nassirpour Alavian Born in Tehran, Iran 2006 Mitochondrial Instability, Lack of Erk1/2 Activation and High Expression of P75NTR in Engrailed-Deficient Mesencephalic Dopaminergic Neurons Referees: Professor Dr. Konrad Beyreuter Professor Dr. Hilmar Bading To My Parents Table of Contents Acknowledgements IV Summary V Zussammenfassung VI Introduction 1 1. General introduction 2 2. Development of mesDA Neurons and Transcription Factors 3 2.1. Early Development 3 2.2. Postmitotic Transcription Factors 7 2.2.1. Nurr.1 7 2.2.2. Pitx3 9 2.2.3. Lmx1b 10 2.2.4. Engrailed1/2 11 3. Parkinson’s Disease, Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology of DA System 14 3.1. Clinical Features of Parkinson’s Disease 14 3.2. Dopamine Pathway, Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease 15 3.3. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Dopamine Pathway 17 3.4. Experimental Models of Parkinson’s Disease 18 4.