Progesterone modulates nitric oxide levels in substancia nigra of the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease.

CASAS S.; ESCUDERO C.; CERIONI S.; LACONI M.; YUNES R.; CABRERA R.

San Luis

Congreso; XXVII Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2009

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Progesterone modulate nitric oxide levels in substancia nigra of the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Casas S, Escudero C, Cerioni S, Laconi M, Yunes R, Cabrera R,  Instituto de Inv Biomédicas, FCS, U Mendoza, IMBECU, CONICET Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in humans. Nitric oxide (NO), a potentially toxic molecule, has been implicated in a wide range of diverse pathophysiological processes. In this study, we investigated the modulatory effects of Progesterone (P) on the generation of nitric oxide (NO), measured as nitrites, in substancia nigra. We used adult male Spague-Dawley rats (n=10/group). We inyected                          6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neurotoxic-drug in left striatum  to induce neurodegeneration dopamine pathway. Experimental groups: 1)SHAM, 2)Lesion 3)Lesion and progesterone treatment 4 mg/kg subcutaneous 7 days post-lesion 4)Lesion and progesterone treatment 24 hours post-lesion. Nitrites levels were measured after 2 month post-damage. We observed a significant difference between left (L) and right (R) striatum on nitrites levels in group 2 (R=5±0,52;L=7±0.44). No changes in nitrites levels was observed in group 3 (R=4,3±0,27;L=4±0,23) and 4 (R=4,4±0,19;L=4,1±0,25) compared to group SHAM. We concluded that P treatment has  differential effect on reactivity after 6-OHDA injury in a time dependent manner. Therefore we propose the neuroactive steroids like P could have potential neuroprotective effect regarding different neurotoxins.