title: Neuroprotective effects of the dopamine agonists pramipexole and bromocriptine in 3-acetylpyridine-treated rats.
abstract: The neuroprotective effects of pramipexole, a dopamine agonist, were investigated in 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP)-treated Wistar rats. Bromocriptine was used as a reference compound to compare the results obtained with pramipexole. A significant reduction (P < 0.01) in cerebellar cGMP and ATP was observed 96 h after treatment with 3-AP (500 micromol/kg, i.p.). Both pramipexole and bromocriptine significantly attenuated 3-AP-induced reduction in cerebellar cGMP and ATP. Consistent with the neurochemical effect, both pramipexole and bromocriptine prevented 3-AP-induced loss of motor coordination. 3-Acetylpyridine produced a significant (P < 0.01) loss of neurons in the inferior olivary nucleus. Treatment with pramipexole and bromocriptine partially, but significantly (P < 0.01), prevented the loss of inferior olivary neurons. There was no reduction in the temperature of the animals, indicating that hypothermia was not responsible for neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: CNS Diseases Research, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI 49001, USA.
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Sethy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Oostveen
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001831:Body Temperature; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000077487:Pramipexole; D011725:Pyridines / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011725:Pyridines; D013844:Thiazoles; C010835:3-acetylpyridine; D001971:Bromocriptine; D000077487:Pramipexole; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D006152:Cyclic GMP