Experimental animal models of Parkinson's disease: A transition from assessing symptomatology to α-synuclein targeted disease modification

With the understanding that alpha-synuclein plays a major role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), novel animal models have been developed for conducting preclinical research in screening novel disease modifying therapies. Advancements in research techniques in alpha-synuclein targeted disease modification have utilised methods such as viral mediated expression of human alpha-synuclein, as well as the inoculation of pathogenic alpha-synuclein species from Lewy Bodies of PD patients, for accurately modelling progressive self-propagating neurodegeneration. In applying these cutting-edge research tools with sophisticated trial designs in preclinical drug trials, a useful platform has emerged for developing candidate agents with disease modifying actions, promising a greater chance of success for clinical translation. In this article, we describe the transition of well-established animal models of PD symptomatology to newly developed models of PD pathogenesis, with specific focus on methods of viral-mediated and inoculation of pathogenic alpha-synuclein, that aim to aid scientific translation of neuroprotective strategies.