Hyperactivity of the glutamatergic system is involved in excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and treatment with drugs modulating glutamatergic activity may have beneficial effects. Ceftriaxone has been reported to increase glutamate uptake by increasing glutamate transporter expression. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ceftriaxone on working memory, object recognition, and neurodegeneration in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD rat model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHyperactivation of glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors has been implicated in the excitotoxicity and pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). NMDA receptor blockers have been used clinically to treat dementia, but their efficacy is controversial. Modulation of NMDA receptors might improve neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in PD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHyperactivity of the glutamatergic system is involved in excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) modulates glutamatergic transmission and thus has been proposed as a potential target for neuroprotective drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine (MPEP), an mGluR5 antagonist, on working memory, object recognition, and neurodegeneration in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD rat model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeveral years after the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD), 20-30% of PD patients develop dementia, known as Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), the features of which include impairment of short-term memory and recognition function. Hyperactivation of the glutamatergic system is implicated in the neurodegeneration seen in PD. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of MK-801, an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, on short-term memory and object recognition in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD rat animal model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Behav Neurosci
November 2011
The elevated plus-maze (EPM) test is one of the most commonly used behavioral assays to evaluate anxiety-related behavior in rodents. It is an economic test (5 min duration) without prior conditioning of the animals. The critical measure for anxiety is the time spent in the open arms of the maze.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlutamatergic dysfunction has been implicated in the neurodegeneration seen in Parkinson's disease (PD). Sub-chronic intraperitoneal injection with D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist at the glycine binding site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, at dosages of 30, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day, was used to evaluate the role of NMDA receptors in neuronal and behavioral changes in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD rat model. Starting one day after intra-nigral infusion of MPTP, transient disturbance of motor function in the rotarod test was observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEmotional changes, impairment of object recognition, and neuroinflammation are seen in Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD). Here, we show that bilateral infusion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) into the rat substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of Wistar rats caused degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, microglial activation in the SNc and hippocampus, and cell loss in the hippocampal CA1 area. With regard to behavior, an increase in anxiety-like behavior and impairment of object recognition were observed during the fourth week after MPTP lesioning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimal models of Parkinson's disease with dementia would greatly facilitate research into the underlying causes of this disorder. Here, we showed that bilateral infusion of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of Wistar rats caused degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, cell loss in the hippocampal CA1 area, as well as microglial activation and increase of interleukin-2 levels in several brain regions. In addition, increase of anxiety-like behavior and impairment of object recognition were observed in the MPTP-lesioned rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHyper-activation of glutamatergic activity and deficits in episodic memory has been observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was intended to clarify the effects of D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, on neuroinflammation and deficits in episodic-like memory in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD animal model. Male Wistar rats were stereotaxically administered with MPTP into the substantia nigra pars compacta.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLow dose of D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist of glycine binding site on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, can facilitate extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) activity in the amygdala and modulate emotional behavior. However, the relationship between ERK1/2 activation, individual anxiety levels, and DCS is unknown. Therefore, based on open arm time in the elevated plus-maze, male Wistar rats were divided into subgroups with either low (LOA) or high open arm (HOA) time.
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