title: Neuroprotective effect of arundic acid, an astrocyte-modulating agent, in mouse brain against MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) neurotoxicity.
abstract: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes the damage of dopaminergic neurons as seen in Parkinson's disease. Oxidative stress has been as one of several pathogenic hypotheses for Parkinson's disease. Here we investigated whether arundic acid, an astrocyte-modulating agent, can protect against alterations of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression on MPTP neurotoxicity in mice, utilizing an immunohistochemistry. For this purpose, anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody, anti-dopamine transporter (DAT) antibody, anti-Cu/Zn-SOD antibody, anti-Mn-SOD antibody, anti-nNOS antibody, anti-eNOS antibody and anti-iNOS antibody were used. The present study showed that the arundic acid had a protective effect against MPTP-induced neuronal damage in the striatum and substantia nigra of mice. The protective effect may be, at least in part, caused by the reductions of the levels of reactive nitrogen (RNS) and oxygen species (ROS) against MPTP neurotoxicity. These results suggest that the pharmacological modulation of astrocyte may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, our results provide further evidence that a combination of nNOS inhibitors, iNOS inhibitors and free radical scavengers may be effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Thus our present results provide valuable information for the pathogenesis of degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuronal pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Metabolism and Therapeutics, Graduate School and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokushima, 1-78 Sho-machi, Tokushima 770-8505, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himeda
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kadoguchi
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maegawa
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002210:Caprylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; C459360:ONO2506; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid