title: Effects of glutamate and alpha2-noradrenergic receptor antagonists on the development of neurotoxicity produced by chronic rotenone in rats.
abstract: Systemic inhibition of complex I by rotenone in rats represents a model of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this study was to elucidate whether neramexane (NMDA, nicotinic alpha9/alpha10 and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist), idazoxan (alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist) or 2-methyl-6-(phenyl-ethyl)-pyrimidine (MPEP, metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 antagonist) prevents rotenone-induced parkinsonian-like behaviours and neurochemical changes in rats. Rotenone (2.5 mg/kg i.p. daily) was administered over 60 days together with saline, neramexane (5 mg/kg i.p., b.i.d.), idazoxan (2.5 mg/kg i.p., b.i.d.) or MPEP (2.5 mg/kg i.p., b.i.d.). The same doses of neramexane, idazoxan and MPEP were administered to rats treated with vehicle instead of rotenone. Treatment-related effects on parkinsonian-like behaviours, such as hypokinesia/rigidity and locomotor activity, were evaluated. Moreover, concentrations of dopamine, serotonin and their metabolites were measured in rats from each experimental group. Over the 60-day treatment period, the rotenone+saline treated animals developed hypokinesia, expressed as an increase in the bar and grid descent latencies in the catalepsy test, and a decrease in locomotor activity. Neramexane and idazoxan partially prevented the development of catalepsy in rotenone-treated rats. Co-administration of MPEP with rotenone resulted only in a decrease in descent latency in the grid test on day 60. Chronic rotenone treatment reduced concentrations of dopamine and serotonin in the anterior striatum, which was blocked by co-treatment with neramexane or idazoxan but not with MPEP. Only neramexane treatment blocked the rotenone-induced decrease in dopamine levels in the substantia nigra pars compacta. In conclusion, neramexane and idazoxan counteracted to some extent the development of parkinsonian symptoms and neurochemical alterations in the rotenone model of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Department of Neuropharmacology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28E, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. alam.mesbah@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Mesbah
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Danysz
authors.forename: Werner Jürgen
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekundy
mesh_terms: D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D019329:Idazoxan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009127:Muscle Rigidity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D012402:Rotenone; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D058669:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Antagonists; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D003517:Cyclopentanes; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011725:Pyridines; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D012402:Rotenone; D012701:Serotonin; C121465:6-methyl-2-(phenylethynyl)pyridine; C114144:neramexane; D004298:Dopamine; D019329:Idazoxan