Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology
Author: Maria Elena Arce | email: earce.arce7@gmail.com
Maria Elena Arce 1°, Georgina Pulcini 1°, Sergio Gustavo Ochoa Munafo 1°, Susana Ines Sanchez 1°, Gladys Maria Ciuffo 1°
1° IMIBIO -SL CONICET. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. San Luis , Argentina.
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. PD is characterized by nigrostriatal dopaminergic cell degeneration, loss of striatal dopamine, glial activation and development of a-synuclein(a-Syn) aggregates. The brain Renin Angiotensin System regulates multiple physiological functions, activating Angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 and AT2 receptors. It has been demonstrated the existence of both Ang II receptor subtypes in the Substantia nigra (SN) which are considered as participants of neurodegenerative process. The aim of this work is to provide more specific evidence for the validity of the rotenone rat model of PD, which it was assayed previously by our group. Immunohistochemical analysis of Ang II receptors, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and a-Syn were performed in the SN of rotenone-treated animals. In coincidence with our previous results, we confirm the presence of both Ang II receptors in SN of rotenone-treated rats. We found in these animals loss of dopaminergic neurons and decreased immunoreactivity against anti-TH antibodies. Whereas we observed many nigral cells with a-Syn positive aggregates. These findings contribute to understand the potential role of the brain renin angiotensin system in neurodegenerative processes and allows us to maximize the utility of the rotenone rat model.