APOMORPHINE INDUCED NEUROPROTECTION IN AN ANIMAL MODEL OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Mustafa Varcin, Hong Yuan, Birgit Mertens, Yvette Michotte, Sophie Sarre

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingMeeting abstract (Book)

Abstract

We investigated the neuroprotective effects of the dopamine (DA) receptor agonist R-apomorphine (R-APO) (10mg/kg/day, s.c. for 11 days) in the striatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). The treatment was started either 15' before or 24h after lesioning. R-APO was also administered to intact rats. Two weeks after lesioning, the neuroprotective effects were evaluated using behavioural, neurochemical and histological tests. We also studied the effect of R-APO on the neurotrophic factor fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) mRNA expression in the striatum of intact rats. Both in the striatum and the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), 6-OHDA induced a lesion of about 50%. The treatment significantly reduced the amphetamine-induced ipsiversive rotations, the size of the lesion at the level of the SNpc and ventral tegmental area (VTA), and the 6-OHDA induced striatal DA depletion. The number of cells in the VTA significantly increased in intact rats, suggesting a neurotrophic action of R-APO. Preliminary data show an increase of the striatal FGF-2 mRNA levels. We conclude that R-APO has a neuroprotective and possible neurotrophic effect in our rat model. This may, at least in part, be mediated by an up-regulation of FGF-2.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBelgian Society of Fundamental and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, Autumn meeting, 24th October 2009
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Publication series

NameBelgian Society of Fundamental and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, Autumn meeting, 24th October 2009

Keywords

  • apomorphine
  • Parkinson's disease
  • 6-OHDA rat model
  • neuroprotection

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