Neuroprotective effects of methylene blue in streptozotocin-induced model of Alzheimer's disease.

Methylene blue (MB) can be used as a multidirectional neuroprotector to stop the development of multiple cascades of neuron damage during neurodegenerative processes. This study assesses a protective effect of MB, using an experimental simulation of sporadic Alzheimer's disease by intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. It was found that a STZ-induced impairment of memory can be partially mitigated with intravenous injections of MB after the administration of STZ.

The Influence of Striatal Astrocyte Dysfunction on Locomotor Activity in Dopamine-depleted Rats.

Introduction: Astrocyte dysfunction is the common pathology failing astrocyte-neuron interaction in neurological diseases, including Parkinson's Disease (PD). The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of astrocytic dysfunction caused by striatal injections of selective glial toxin L-Aminoadipic Acid (L-AA) on the rats' locomotor activity in normal conditions and under alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine depletion of catecholamines synthesis.

Methods: Thirty-three male Wistar rats were used in the experiments.

Influence of RARalpha gene on MDR1 expression and P-glycoprotein function in human leukemic cells.

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype of malignant cells is the major problem in the chemotherapy of neoplasia. The treatment of leukemia with retinoids is aimed on the induction of leukemic cells differentiation. However the interconnections between retinoid regulated differentiation of leukemic cells and regulation of MDR remains unclear.

Effects of isoprenoid analogues of SDB-ethylenediamine on multidrug resistant tumor cells alone and in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein (Pgp) remains the major obstacle for successful treatment of cancer. Inhibition of Pgp transport is important for higher efficacy of anticancer drugs. Lipophilic cationogenic amines with at least one tertiary N atom, such as verapamil, are classical PgP-blocking agents.