open access

Vol 50, No 2 (2012)
Original paper
Submitted: 2012-02-03
Accepted: 2012-02-03
Published online: 2012-07-04
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Docosahexaenoic acid provides protective mechanism in bilaterally MPTP-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease

Gulay Hacioglu, Yasemin Seval-Celik, Gamze Tanriover, Ozlem Ozsoy, Esen Saka-Topcuoglu, Sevin Balkan, Aysel Agar
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2012.0032
·
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2012;50(2):228-238.

open access

Vol 50, No 2 (2012)
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Submitted: 2012-02-03
Accepted: 2012-02-03
Published online: 2012-07-04

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the phospholipid fraction of the brain, is essential for normal cellular function. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) often exhibit significant declines in PUFAs. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of DHA supplementation in an experimental rat model of PD created with ‘1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine’ (MPTP). Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) Control; (2) DHA-treated; (3) MPTP-induced; and (4) MPTP-induced + DHA-treated. Motor activity was investigated using the ‘vertical pole’ and ‘vertical wire’ tests. The dopaminergic lesion was determined by immunohistochemical analysis for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive cells in substantia nigra (SN). Immunoreactivities of Bcl-2, Akt and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) in SN were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. MPTP-induced animals exhibited decreased locomotor activity, motor coordination and loss of equilibrium. Diminished Parkinsonism symptoms and decreased dopaminergic neuron death were detected in the MPTP-induced + DHA-treated group compared to the MPTP-induced group. Moderate decreases in Akt staining were found in the MPTP-induced and MPTP-induced + DHA-treated groups compared to controls. p-Akt immunoreactivity decreased dramatically in the MPTP-induced group compared to the control; however, it was increased in the MPTP-induced + DHA-treated group compared to the MPTP-induced group. The staining intensity for Bcl-2 decreased prominently in the MPTP-induced group compared to the control, while it was stronger in the MPTP-induced + DHA-treated group compared to the MPTP-induced group. In conclusion, DHA significantly protects dopaminergic neurons against cell death in an experimental PD model. Akt/p-Akt and Bcl-2 pathways are related to this protective effect of DHA in experimental PD.

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the phospholipid fraction of the brain, is essential for normal cellular function. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) often exhibit significant declines in PUFAs. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of DHA supplementation in an experimental rat model of PD created with ‘1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine’ (MPTP). Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) Control; (2) DHA-treated; (3) MPTP-induced; and (4) MPTP-induced + DHA-treated. Motor activity was investigated using the ‘vertical pole’ and ‘vertical wire’ tests. The dopaminergic lesion was determined by immunohistochemical analysis for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunopositive cells in substantia nigra (SN). Immunoreactivities of Bcl-2, Akt and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) in SN were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. MPTP-induced animals exhibited decreased locomotor activity, motor coordination and loss of equilibrium. Diminished Parkinsonism symptoms and decreased dopaminergic neuron death were detected in the MPTP-induced + DHA-treated group compared to the MPTP-induced group. Moderate decreases in Akt staining were found in the MPTP-induced and MPTP-induced + DHA-treated groups compared to controls. p-Akt immunoreactivity decreased dramatically in the MPTP-induced group compared to the control; however, it was increased in the MPTP-induced + DHA-treated group compared to the MPTP-induced group. The staining intensity for Bcl-2 decreased prominently in the MPTP-induced group compared to the control, while it was stronger in the MPTP-induced + DHA-treated group compared to the MPTP-induced group. In conclusion, DHA significantly protects dopaminergic neurons against cell death in an experimental PD model. Akt/p-Akt and Bcl-2 pathways are related to this protective effect of DHA in experimental PD.
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Keywords

Parkinson’s disease; MPTP; Docosahexaenoic acid; Dopaminergic neuron survival; Akt/p-Akt; Bcl-2; Rat

About this article
Title

Docosahexaenoic acid provides protective mechanism in bilaterally MPTP-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease

Journal

Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica

Issue

Vol 50, No 2 (2012)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

228-238

Published online

2012-07-04

Page views

3582

Article views/downloads

3192

DOI

10.5603/FHC.2012.0032

Bibliographic record

Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2012;50(2):228-238.

Keywords

Parkinson’s disease
MPTP
Docosahexaenoic acid
Dopaminergic neuron survival
Akt/p-Akt
Bcl-2
Rat

Authors

Gulay Hacioglu
Yasemin Seval-Celik
Gamze Tanriover
Ozlem Ozsoy
Esen Saka-Topcuoglu
Sevin Balkan
Aysel Agar

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