Neuroprotective effects of caffeine in the model of 6-hydroxydopamine lesion in rats

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 2006-07, Vol.84 (3), p.415-419
• Main Authors: Aguiar, Lissiana Magna Vasconcelos, Nobre, Hélio V., Macêdo, Danielle S., Oliveira, Aline A., Freitas, Rivelilson M., Vasconcelos, Silvânia M., Cunha, Geanne M.A., Sousa, Francisca Cléa F., Viana, Glauce Socorro B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6-Hydroxydopamine; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Animals; Apomorphine - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - drug effects; Brain - pathology; Brain Diseases - drug therapy; Caffeine; Caffeine - metabolism; Caffeine - pharmacology; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Disease Models, Animal; Dopamine Agents - metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; Neurology; Neurons - drug effects; Neuropharmacology; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Organic mental disorders. Neuropsychology; Oxidopamine - metabolism; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson's disease; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Rat striatum; Rats; Rats, Wistar
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.05.027

The work shows the effects of caffeine after the intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA in rats, considered as a model of Parkinson disease (PD). Two weeks after the 6-OHDA lesion, rats exhibit a characteristic rotation behavior as a response to the apomorphine challenge. Our results showed significant increases in the number of apomorphine-induced rotations in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, as compared to sham-operated animals. A partial recovery was observed in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, after caffeine (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 14 days) treatment. The stereotaxic injection of 6-OHDA produced loss of striatal neurons, as indicated by the decrease in monoamines levels, in the ipsilateral side (75–85%) when compared to the contralateral side. Significant decreases in noradrenaline levels were seen in the ipsilateral side of 6-OHDA group (62%), and this effect was not significantly reversed in caffeine-treated groups. While significant decreases in dopamine levels were seen in the ipsilateral side of 6-OHDA group (78%), in the caffeine-treated group (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) the decreases were only 53 and 18%, indicating significant recoveries. In conclusion, our data demonstrated beneficial effects of caffeine in this model of PD, suggesting the potential use of A2A antagonists as a novel treatment for this neurodegenerative disease.