title: The effects of pergolide on memory and oxidative stress in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: One of the most widely used animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) involves injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) directly into the substantia nigra (SN). Some recent reports speculated that dopaminergic drugs may exert brain antioxidant activity, which could explain some of their protective actions. In this way, the aim of the present study was to examine the effects of low-dose pergolide on memory deficits and brain oxidative stress in a 6-OHDA-induced rat model of PD. Right-unilateral lesions of the SN were produced with 6-OHDA. Two weeks after neurosurgery, pergolide (0.3 mg/kg/day) was injected intraperitoneally in the 6-OHDA + pergolide and sham-operated + pergolide groups, while sham-operated and 6-OHDA alone groups received saline. Radial-8-arm maze and Y-maze were used for memory assessment. We also determined some enzymatic antioxidant defenses like superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase and a lipid peroxidation marker [malondialdehyde (MDA)], from the temporal lobe. A reduced number of working/reference memory errors was observed in 6-OHDA + pergolide group, compared to sham-operated rats. Additionally, post hoc analysis showed significant differences between 6-OHDA and 6-OHDA + pergolide groups in both Y-maze and radial-arm-maze tasks. We also noted a significant decrease of MDA level in the 6-OHDA + pergolide group, compared to sham-operated rats. Significant correlations were also found between behavioral parameters and MDA levels. Our data suggest that pergolide facilitates spatial memory and improves brain oxidative balance, after a 6-OHDA-induced model of PD. This could be useful for further investigations and clinical applications of pergolide.
authors: Department of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Bd. Carol I, nr. 11, Iasi 700506, Romania. alin.ciobica@uaic.ro
authors: Alin
authors: A
authors: Ciobica
authors: Zenovia
authors: Z
authors: Olteanu
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Padurariu
authors: Lucian
authors: L
authors: Hritcu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D016627:Oxidopamine; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D010479:Pergolide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D010479:Pergolide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D016627:Oxidopamine; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase