title: Motor dysfunction and alterations in glutathione concentration, cholinesterase activity, and BDNF expression in substantia nigra pars compacta in rats with pedunculopontine lesion.
abstract: Pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) has been considered a critically important region in the regulation of some of the physiological functions that fail during the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this paper, the effects of unilateral neurotoxic lesion of the PPN [through the injection of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) solution (concentration: 0.1M; volume: 0.5µL)] in motor execution and gait disorders and the changes in cellular and molecular indicators in rat nigral tissue were evaluated. The motor execution was assessed using the beam test (BT) and the gait disorders by footprint test. Glutathione (GSH) concentrations, acetyl cholinesterase enzymatic activity (AChE EA), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in nigral tissue were analyzed. NMDA-lesioned rats showed fine motor dysfunction with a significant increase in the slow (p≤0.01) and fast movement (p≤0.01) time and in path deviation (p≤0.01) on the smaller diameter beams. Moreover, NMDA-lesioned rats exhibited an imprecise path with moments of advances and setbacks, alternating with left and right deviations, suspensions, and inverted positions. Footprint test revealed slight gait disorders, which were manifested by a reduction in the left and right stride lengths, the intra-step distance, and the support area (p≤0.01). Biochemical studies showed that 48h after the PPN neurotoxic injury, the GSH concentrations and BDNF expression were significantly increased (p≤0.01). These variables returned to normal values 7days after the PPN lesion; the AChE EA showed a significant increase at this time. These functional changes in nigral tissue could be a plastic responses associated with early PD.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba; Latinoamerican School of Medicine, Km 3½ Carretera Panamericana, Santa Fé, Playa, Havana, Cuba. Electronic address: lisette.blanco@infomed.sld.cu.
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanco-Lezcano
authors.affiliation: Neurochemical Department, Cuban Neuroscience Center, 190th Street e/ Ave. 25 and Avenue 27, Playa, CP 11300 Havana, Cuba; Department of Physiology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Martin
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba; Latinoamerican School of Medicine, Km 3½ Carretera Panamericana, Santa Fé, Playa, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Mei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Díaz-Hung
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alberti-Amador
authors.affiliation: Drugs Research and Development Center (CIDEM), Neuroprotection and Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Ave. 26 No. 1605 e/ Ave, Boyeros and Ave, Puentes Grandes, Plaza, CP: 10600 Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Maylin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wong-Guerra
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba; Latinoamerican School of Medicine, Km 3½ Carretera Panamericana, Santa Fé, Playa, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Ma Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: González-Fraguela
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba; Latinoamerican School of Medicine, Km 3½ Carretera Panamericana, Santa Fé, Playa, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Estupiñán-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba; Latinoamerican School of Medicine, Km 3½ Carretera Panamericana, Santa Fé, Playa, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serrano-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Experimental Group: "Experimental Models for Zoo-Human Sciences", Faculty of Sciences, Tolima University, 42nd Street, Barrio Santa Elena, Parte Alta, CP: 730001, Colombia.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francis-Turner
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delgado-Ocaña
authors.affiliation: Drugs Research and Development Center (CIDEM), Neuroprotection and Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Ave. 26 No. 1605 e/ Ave, Boyeros and Ave, Puentes Grandes, Plaza, CP: 10600 Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Yanier
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Núñez-Figueredo
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Yamilé
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vega-Hurtado
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurophysiology Department, International Center of Neurological Restoration (CIREN), Ave. 25 No. 15805 e/ 158 and 160, Playa, CP: 11300 Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fernández-Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002802:Cholinesterases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000633:toxicity; D065842:Pars Compacta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D045042:Pedunculopontine Tegmental Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D002802:Cholinesterases; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: BDNF; beam test; footprint test; glutathione; pedunculopontine nucleus; substantia nigra pars compacta