Failure of estrogen to protect the substantia nigra pars compacta of female rats from lesion induced by 6-hydroxydopamine

• Published in: Brain research 2003-10, Vol.986 (1), p.200-205
• Main Authors: Ferraz, Anete Curte, Xavier, Léder Leal, Hernandes, Sı́lvia, Sulzbach, Martha, Viola, Giordano Gubert, Anselmo-Franci, Janete A., Achaval, Matilde, Da Cunha, Claudio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 6-Hydroxydopamine; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dopamine - metabolism; Estrogen; Estrogens - pharmacology; Female; Medical sciences; Neurology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Neuroprotection; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Oxidopamine - pharmacology; Parkinsonian Disorders - drug therapy; Parkinsonian Disorders - metabolism; Parkinsonian Disorders - physiopathology; Parkinson’s disease; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Substantia Nigra - drug effects; Substantia Nigra - pathology; Substantia Nigra - physiopathology; Substantia nigra pars compacta; Treatment Failure; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - metabolism; Ventral Tegmental Area - drug effects; Ventral Tegmental Area - pathology; Ventral Tegmental Area - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-8993(03)03198-6

The immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) after intranigral infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 6 μg/side) was analyzed in ovariectomized adult female Wistar rats. Estrogen replacement for 52 days (400-μg 17-β-estradiol capsules) did not prevent the loss of TH-immunoreactive cells induced by 6-OHDA in the SNpc. This result indicates that the neuroprotective effect of dopaminergic mesencephalic cells is not observed with long-term estrogen replacement.