Behavioral and Neurochemical Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid in the Model of Parkinson’s Disease Induced by Unilateral Stereotaxic Injection of 6-Ohda in Rat

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate behavioral and neurochemical effects of α-lipoic acid (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) alone or associated with L-DOPA using an animal model of Parkinson's disease induced by stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in rat striatum. Motor behavior was assessed by monitoring body rotations induced by apomorphine, open field test and cylinder test. Oxidative stress was accessed by determination of lipid peroxidation using the TBARS method, concentration of nitrite and evaluation of catalase activity. α-Lipoic acid decreased body rotations induced by apomorphine, as well as caused an improvement in motor performance by increasing locomotor activity in the open field test and use of contralateral paw (in the opposite side of the lesion produced by 6-OHDA) at cylinder test. α-lipoic acid showed antioxidant effects, decreasing lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels and interacting with antioxidant system by decreasing of endogenous catalase activity. Therefore, α-lipoic acid prevented the damage induced by 6-OHDA or by chronic use of L-DOPA in dopaminergic neurons, suggesting that α-lipoic could be a new therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease prevention and treatment.

Impact of the Chronic Omega‐3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Hemiparkinsonism Model Induced by 6‐Hydroxydopamine in Rats

“…This oxidative damage affected also the PFC and the HC as well, demonstrating that the progressive injury produced by 6‐OHDA is not restricted to neurons of the nigrostriatal pathway. These results corroborated with other studies relating the 6‐OHDA deleterious effects on many brain regions such as PFC and HC . The antioxidant effects of the ω‐3 PUFA supplementation as demonstrated by us were also observed in a study conducted by Sarsılmaz et al .…”

Neuroprotective Effects of Sulphated Agaran from Marine Alga Gracilaria cornea in Rat 6‐Hydroxydopamine Parkinson's Disease Model: Behavioural, Neurochemical and Transcriptional Alterations

“…), followed by stereotaxic surgery according to Araújo et al . . Initially, the intrastriatal injection (int.)…”

“…after a minute of habituation. Before introducing each animal, the arena was cleaned with 5% alcohol to eliminate possible bias due to the odour left by previous animals .…”

“…The behaviour was assessed by monitoring the body rotations induced by apomorphine (3 mg/kg, i.p.). The number of net rotations (the number of 360° contralateral turns) was recorded for 60 min., and on the next day, the animals were killed, and the brain areas (striatal, hippocampal and prefrontal cortex tissue) were collected and stored at −80°C until use .…”

“…Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently understood as a common and progressive neurodegenerative disease pathologically characterized by neurochemical and behavioural changes associated with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons . Studies of patients with PD and studies using animal models of PD suggest that oxidative/nitroactive stress and inflammation are important factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease and can further increase the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons . Among animal models of PD, the neurotoxin 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) is known to cause similar behavioural alterations, neurochemical features and primary pathological conditions as in patients with PD .…”