Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by Dopaminergic (DA) neuron depletion. Early detection of PD may help in
selecting the appropriate treatment. Biomarkers of PD have been suggested, however none of these is currently in clinical
use. The aim of this study was to identify Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as early biomarkers of PD. Our hypothesis was
that during PD progression, specific VOCs are generated that are linked to the biochemical pathways characterizing PD. These
VOCs can be detected by GC–MS combined with Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) technique. Three groups of rats were
studied: DA-lesioned rats injected with 6-hydroxydopamine (HDA; 250 μg/rat; n=11); control rats injected with saline (n=9),
and control rats injected with DSP-4 (n=8), a specific noradrenergic neuron toxin. Blood and striatal tissue homogenates were
analyzed. In the blood, 1-octen-3-ol and 2-ethylhexanol were found at significantly higher concentrations in HDA versus sham
rats. In the striatal homogenate 1-octen-3-ol and other four compounds were found at significantly lower concentrations in
HDA versus sham rats. 1-octen-3-ol is a cytotoxic compound. These results may lead to the development of an early diagnostic
test for PD based on profiling of VOCs in body fluids.

Biography

Soliman Khatib is, now, a Research Associate in the Laboratory of Oxidative Stress, Migal-Galilee Research Institute and a Senior Lecturer, Department of
Biotechnology, Tel-Hai Academic Collage. He achieved a Doctor’s degree (PhD) through a direct PhD program from the Technion Institute, in Natural Science,
Chemistry during 1996-2000. He did his BSc from the Ben-Gurion University, in Natural Science, Chemistry during1993-1995. His research focuses on understanding
the relationship between oxidative stress and diseases related to oxidative stress to identify Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as early biomarkers of Parkinson
and other neurodegenerative diseases.