[Modification of experimental rotenone model of Parkinson's disease]

A modification of experimental model of Parkinson's disease is proposed presuming the stereotaxic infusion of rotenone solution using a special device into the cental part of substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta of adult Wistar rats. It was shown that 10 days after infusion of the neurotoxin the density of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the infusion area drops nearly six-fold, to 20.2±3.2 neurons/mm2, with respect to the corresponding value in non-affected controlateral SN, 119.0±3.3 neurons/mm2. Electron microscopy has shown ultrastructural impairments in mitochondria of SN neurons in the infusion area displayed mainly as a cristae disarray. The absence of overall toxicity and selectivity of the brain tissue impairments provide an evidence that the proposed rotenone model modification is adequate and can be used to study the effects of DA neuronal degeneration typical of Parkinson's disease.