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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Induction and Assessment of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: October 14, 2021
Serotonergic dysfunction in a model of parkinsonism induced by reserpine
Pollyana C Leal1, José Marcos M Bispo2, Rovena C G J Engelberth3
1Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristovão, 49100-000, SE, Brazil; Post-Graduate Program of Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, 49060-100, SE, Brazil.
Abstract:
Parkinson's disease (PD) is mainly characterized by a dopamine deficiency accompanied by structural and functional changes in striatal neuronal projections. However, studies have considered PD as a multi-systemic disease in which the neurodegenerative process extends beyond the dopaminergic system. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the time-course of serotonergic neuron damage in a progressive model of parkinsonism induced by a low dose of reserpine. Thus, male Wistar rats received 4 (ST, short-treatment of reserpine) or 10 (MT, middle-term treatment of reserpine) subcutaneous injections of vehicle or reserpine (0.1 mg/kg) at a volume of 1 mL/kg body weight, on alternate days. Animals were euthanized 48 h after the last injection for immunohistochemical analysis. After ST, 5-HT immunoreactivity decreased in hippocampal subareas (CA1 and CA3) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared to vehicle. Furthermore, animals MT-treated also showed progressive decrease of 5-HT immunoreactivity in CA1 and CA3 subareas. Conversely, a significant increase of 5-HT immunoreactivity was found in mPFC and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in animals submitted to MT when compared to ST exposure. The results showed that, in the repeated low-dose reserpine rat model, variations in the immunoreactivity of 5-HT start early in the course of progressive parkinsonism.
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