Neuroprotective Effect of Atremorine in an Experimental Model of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinsonian-like state was generated in mice by the administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to study the effects of Atremorine in Parkinson's disease (PD) related neuropathology and behavior deficits. This devastating disease is caused by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Numerous therapeutic strategies have been developed to protect neuronal damage, although no effective treatment for PD has been validated yet. This study tested the preventive and therapeutic neuroprotective effect of Atremorine on MPTP parkinsonian mouse model. In addition to behavioral analysis, nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and inflammation biomarkers were directly quantified in the affected brain regions by specific antibody-antigen-binding methods. The affected neuronal populations and behavioural alterations induced by MPTP were significantly impaired in mice when treated with Atremorine-rich diet. Differences in the Atremorine content in diet induced some degrees of neuropathological and behavior therapeutical improvement, based on the progressive beneficial effects observed in nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons of MPTPinduced mice. Data demonstrated that Atremorine promotes neuroprotection and behavior recovery in the injured MTPT-mouse brain by modulating the expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase, glial proteins, apoptosis and endogenous dopamine and neuromelanin concentrations, probably the key to recover the basal ganglia function.