Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine whether whole body hyperthermia (WBH) could reduce oxidative stress in the striatum produced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a mitochondrial toxin that irreversibly inhibits succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), causing impairment of energy metabolism, oxidative stress and a selective degeneration of striatal cells.
Methods: Rats were subjected to WBH (42 degrees C) or normothermia control conditions for 30 min and then treated with 3-NP. Striatum samples were processed and the levels of protein carbonyl groups, biogenic amines, Hsp72 and salicylate hydroxylation (to probe the hydroxyl radical (OH(*)) intervention) were determined.