Serotonergic dysfunction in a model of parkinsonism induced by reserpine

Publication date: Available online 28 December 2018Source: Journal of Chemical NeuroanatomyAuthor(s): Pollyana C. Leal, José Marcos M. Bispo, Rovena C.G.J. Engelberth, Kayo Diogenes de A. Silva, Ywlliane R. Meurer, Alessandra M. Ribeiro, Regina H. Silva, Murilo Marchioro, José R. SantosAbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is mainly characterized by a dopamine deficiency accompanied by structural and functional changes in striatal neuronal projections. However, studies have considered PD as a multi-systemic disease in which the neurodegenerative process extends beyond the dopaminergic system. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the time-course of serotonergic neuron damage in a progressive model of parkinsonism induced by a low dose of reserpine. Thus, male Wistar rats received 4 (ST, short-treatment of reserpine) or 10 (MT, middle-term treatment of reserpine) subcutaneous injections of vehicle or reserpine (0.1 mg/kg) at a volume of 1 mL/kg body weight, on alternate days. Animals were euthanized 48 hours after the last injection for immunohistochemical analysis. After ST, 5-HT immunoreactivity decreased in hippocampal subareas (CA1 and CA3) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared to vehicle. Furthermore, animals MT-treated also showed progressive decrease of 5-HT immunoreactivity in CA1 and CA3 subareas. Conversely, a significant increase of 5-HT immunoreactivity was found in mPFC and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in animals submitted to MT ...
Source: Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research