Behavioral Outcomes and Histopathological Alterations in a Rotenone-induced Parkinson’s Disease Model: A Comparative Study of L-Dopa and Apomorphine
| Author | Sayed Mostafa Modarres Mousavi | en |
| Author | Fatemeh Alipour | en |
| Author | Shima Lotfollahzadeh | en |
| Author | Faezeh Mousazadeh | en |
| Author | Hasan Hosseini | en |
| Author | Saman Hosseinkhani | en |
| Author | Maryam Nikkhah | en |
| Author | Ali Gorji | en |
| Orcid | Sayed Mostafa Modarres Mousavi [0000-0002-8685-4298] | en |
| Orcid | Maryam Nikkhah [0000-0003-0744-2699] | en |
| Orcid | Ali Gorji [0000-0002-4557-3270] | en |
| Issued Date | 2025-12-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Among the available treatments, levodopa (L-Dopa) and apomorphine (APO) remain the most effective symptomatic treatments for managing PD. Objectives: This study aimed not only to compare the effects of L-Dopa and APO on the behavioral and histopathological characteristics of a rotenone-induced PD animal model but also to evaluate the levels of alpha-synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the model after treatment. Methods: The PD was induced via stereotaxic injection of rotenone into Wistar rats. After four weeks, the animals underwent treatment with either L-Dopa or APO for an additional four weeks. Behavioral assessments were conducted, along with immunostaining to evaluate alpha-synuclein and TH levels. Beta-amyloid accumulation was assessed using Congo red (CR) staining in ipsilateral and contralateral SNc regions. Results: The Morpurgo, stride width, and left stride length findings showed no significant differences among the groups. No significant difference was observed between the treated groups (L-Dopa and APO) and the control group regarding the right stride length from the first to fourth week post-treatment. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining revealed that L-Dopa and APO administration did not alter the over-expressed alpha-synuclein levels or the decreased TH levels induced by rotenone within the SNc region in the rat model. Reduced amyloid deposition was observed in the ipsilateral region of the L-DOPA-treated group, as well as in the contralateral SNc of both the L-DOPA and APO-treated groups. Conclusions: The L-DOPA and APO, though effective for symptomatic PD treatment in humans, showed only partial behavioral improvement and modest reduction in the rotenone-induced PD rat model. The differences in drug effects among humans and various animal models arise from a complex interplay of biological, physiological, and methodological factors. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jrps-162472 | en |
| Keyword | Parkinson’ Disease | en |
| Keyword | Rotenone | en |
| Keyword | L-Dopa | en |
| Keyword | Apomorphine | en |
| Keyword | Amyloids | en |
| Keyword | Tyrosine Hydroxylase | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Behavioral Outcomes and Histopathological Alterations in a Rotenone-induced Parkinson’s Disease Model: A Comparative Study of L-Dopa and Apomorphine | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |