Experimental design
Experiments were performed in accordance with the ARRIVE and BJP
guidelines. Experimenters were blinded to treatments. Twelve (12) fully
dyskinetic rats were randomized to L-Dopa (6 mg kg-1 +
benserazide 15 mg kg-1, s.c.) in combination with
AT-403 (0.03 mg kg-1), CCG-203920 (10 mg
kg-1), AT-403 + CCG-203920, or saline. Each animal was
tested four times, with a 3-day washout allowed between treatments. A
separate cohort of 12 rats was subjected to the same treatments as above
for the analysis of motor performance on the rotarod, both before (OFF
L-Dopa) and after L-Dopa administration (ON L-Dopa). This to evaluate
whether the potential antidyskinetic effect was associated with an
improvement of global motor activity
(Arcuri et al. , 2018;
Marti et al. , 2012;
Paolone et al. , 2015). In fact, a
truly antidyskinetic compound would alleviate LID and consequently
improve rotarod performance whereas whether a motor inhibiting or a
sedative agent would reduce AIMs along with motor performance. Rotarod
performance was assessed at 60 min after L-Dopa administration since the
ALO AIMs time course showed a peak 60-80 min after L-Dopa administration
(Arcuri et al. , 2018;
Marti et al. , 2012;
Paolone et al. , 2015).