title: Selenium reduces bradykinesia and DNA damage in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the effects of selenium (Se) on locomotor activity and DNA damage in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by paraquat (PQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group (n = 12), Se group (n = 12), PQ group (n = 12), and Se + PQ group (n = 12). PQ was administered intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg). Se was offered in the drinking water at a concentration of 11.18 μg/L. Locomotor activity was evaluated weekly using the narrow beam test. The comet assay was performed to assess the level of DNA damage in leukocytes and in brain cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, increased DNA damage was found in the PQ group compared with the control and Se groups (P < 0.001). Interestingly, coadministration of Se and PQ effectively prevented the harmful effects of the toxin in locomotor activity and at the molecular level, reducing bradykinesia (P < 0.01) and DNA damage in leukocytes compared with the PQ-only group (P < 0.001), whereas the levels of DNA damage were comparable to those found in the control and Se groups (P > 0.05). Using the comet assay to analyze brain cells, no differences were found between the groups with regard to damage index (P = 0.774), damage frequency (P = 0.817), or non-detectable cell nuclei (P = 0.481).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this experimental model of PQ-induced PD, the use of Se could contribute to the maintenance of locomotor activity and the integrity of leukocytes DNA. No changes in the levels of DNA damage in brain cells were observed between the experimental groups.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: Joelellwanger@unisc.br.
authors.forename: Joel Henrique
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ellwanger
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danieli Rosane
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dallemole
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pereira dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talise Ellwanger
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Histology and Pathology, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalves da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Isabel Rech
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Nutrition, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Health Promotion, University of Santa Cruz do Sul-UNISC, Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prá
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Institute of Education Research, Development and Technological Innovation-ROYAL, Laboratory of Genotoxicity-GENOTOX, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pêgas Henriques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018476:Hypokinesia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium; D010269:Paraquat
keywords: DNA damage; Locomotor activity; Paraquat; Parkinson's disease; Selenium