Neuroprotective effects of hydrogen sulfide in Parkinson's disease animal models: methods and protocols

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was first proposed to be a neuromodulator in 1996. After that, multiple biological functions of H2S have been revealed. In brain, it regulates intracellular calcium, intracellular pH, and cAMP level in different brain cells via regulation of the functions of different proteins. In pathological situations, H2S produces anti-inflammatory, -oxidant, and -apoptotic effects, and therefore is potentially used to treat neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson's disease (PD). In this chapter, we summarized the methods commonly used to create PD animal models followed by description of evaluations of PD pathology. The PD models described in this chapter included those caused by various neurotoxins like 6-hydroxydopamine, rotenone, and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine. Methods for examination of dopaminergic neuron loss and microglial activation in both substantia nigra and striatum are also described. The role of H2S and its therapeutic potentials are discussed in the last section of this chapter.