title: Piracetam and vinpocetine ameliorate rotenone-induced Parkinsonism in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the neuroprotective effect of the nootropic drugs, piracetam (PIR) and vinpocetine (VIN), in rotenone-induced Parkinsonism in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty male rats were divided into 6 groups of 10 rats each. The groups were administered vehicle, control (rotenone, 1.5 mg/kg/48 h/6 doses, s.c.), PIR (100 and 200 mg/kg/day, p.o.) and VIN (3 and 6 mg/kg/day, p.o.). The motor performance of the rats was evaluated by the open field and pole test. Striatal dopamine level, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assayed. Histopathological study of the substantia nigra was also done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that rotenone-treated rats exhibited bradykinesia and motor impairment in the open-field test. In addition, GSH level was decreased whereas MDA and TNF-α increased in striata of rotenone-treated rats as compared to vehicle-treated rats. Marked degeneration of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) neurons and depletion of striatal dopamine was also observed in the rotenone-treated rats. Treatment with PIR or VIN significantly reversed the locomotor deficits and increased striatal dopamine level. Treatment with VIN significantly (P<0.05) reduced the striatal level of MDA and GSH in comparison to rotenone group whereas TNF-α production was found to be significantly decreased in PIR group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VIN and PIR exhibit neuroprotective activity in rotenone-induced Parkinsonism. Hence, these nootropic agents may be considered as possible candidates in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sawsan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zaitone
authors.forename: Dina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Abo-Elmatty
authors.forename: Shimaa M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Elshazly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010889:Piracetam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012402:Rotenone; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014748:Vinca Alkaloids; D012402:Rotenone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C013983:vinpocetine; D005978:Glutathione; D004298:Dopamine; D010889:Piracetam