Reactive oxygen species produced by Zn influx after exposure to AMPA, but not NMDA and their capturing effect on nigral dopaminergic protection.

Glutamate excitotoxicity is involved in dopaminergic degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Here we compared vulnerability to neurodegeneration after exposure to NMDA and AMPA. Apomorphine-induced movement disorder and dopaminergic degeneration in the SNpc, which are associated with Parkinson's syndrome, were induced after injection of AMPA into the SNpc of rats, but not after injection of NMDA.

Heated Leaf Extract of Coriandrum sativum L. Protects Nigral Dopaminergic Degeneration in Rats.

Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander), which is an annual herb of the Apiaceae family, has been traditionally used as a remedy. Here we tested whether heated extract of coriander leaf protects nigral dopaminergic neurodegeneration after exposure to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA).

Paraquat-induced intracellular Zn dysregulation causes dopaminergic degeneration in the substantia nigra, but not in the striatum.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by a selective death of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, while the difference in the vulnerability to the death between the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the striatum is poorly understood. Here we tested the difference focused on paraquat (PQ)-induced intracellular Zn toxicity via extracellular glutamate accumulation. When PQ was locally injected into the SNpc and the striatum, dopaminergic degeneration was observed in the SNpc, but not in the striatum.

Intracellular hydrogen peroxide produced by 6-hydroxydopamine is a trigger for nigral dopaminergic degeneration of rats via rapid influx of extracellular Zn.

To elucidate the mechanism and significance of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Zn toxicity, which is involved in neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of rats, we postulated that intracellular hydrogen peroxide (HO) produced by 6-OHDA is a trigger for intracellular Zn dysregulation in the SNpc. Intracellular HO level elevated by 6-OHDA in the SNpc was completely inhibited by co-injection of GBR 13069 dihydrochloride (GBR), a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, suggesting that 6-OHDA taken up through dopamine transporters produces HO in the intercellular compartment of dopaminergic neurons. When the SNpc was perfused with HO, glutamate accumulated in the extracellular compartment and the accumulation was inhibited in the presence of N-(p-amylcinnamoyl)anthranilic acid (ACA), a blocker of the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) channels.

Preventive effect of Ninjin-yoei-to, a Kampo medicine, on amyloid β-induced neurodegeneration via intracellular Zn toxicity in the dentate gyrus.

Ninjin-yoei-to (NYT), a Kampo medicine, has ameliorative effects on cognitive dysfunction via enhancing cholinergic neuron activity. To explore an efficacy of NYT administration for prevention and cure of Alzheimer's disease, here we examined the effect of NYT on amyloid β (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration in the dentate gyrus. A diet containing 3% NYT was administered to mice for 2 weeks and human Aβ was intracerebroventricularly injected.

Dehydroeffusol Pprevents Amyloid β-mediated Hippocampal Neurodegeneration via Reducing Intracellular Zn Toxicity.

Dehydroeffusol, a phenanthrene isolated from Juncus effusus, is a Chinese medicine. To explore an efficacy of dehydroeffusol administration for prevention and cure of Alzheimer's disease, here we examined the effect of dehydroeffusol on amyloid β (Aβ)-mediated hippocampal neurodegeneration. Dehydroeffusol (15 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to mice once a day for 6 days and then human Aβ was injected intracerebroventricularly followed by oral administration for 12 days.

Age-related vulnerability to nigral dopaminergic degeneration in rats via Zn-permeable GluR2-lacking AMPA receptor activation.

On the basis of the evidence that extracellular Zn influx induced with AMPA causes Parkinson's syndrome in rats that apomorphine-induced movement disorder emerges, here we used a low dose of AMPA, which does not increase intracellular Zn level in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of young adult rats, and tested whether intracellular Zn dysregulation induced with AMPA is accelerated in the SNpc of aged rats, resulting in age-related vulnerability to Parkinson's syndrome. When AMPA (1 mM) was injected at the rate of 0.05 μl/min for 20 min into the SNpc, intracellular Zn level was increased in the SNpc of aged rats followed by increase in turning behavior in response to apomorphine and nigral dopaminergic degeneration.