Sintomas não motores na doença de Parkinson: modelo de lesão intraestriatal por 6-OHDA em camundongos

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly, characterized by neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (SN), with no clearly established etiology, though the causes may be associated with exposure to environmental toxins and genetic factors. The pathological processes involved in PD are mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation and excitotoxicity. The symptoms of PD are motor, cognitive and autonomic changes. However, few studies have analyzed the non-motor symptoms of PD, especially in animal models. In this context, the objective of this study was to assess non-motor symptoms of PD in animal models with lesions caused by the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine with two different doses, injected bilaterally into the striatum. To achieve our goals we performed tests of open field, apomorphine, Morris water maze and olfactory discrimination tests, and histological analyzes. Our results showed motor abnormalities, learning and memory deficits associated with decreased dopaminergic cells in the SN, striatal neurons and neurons of the hippocampal CA1. Thus, this model for non-motor symptoms of PD can be used to understand the mechanisms involved in the disease, as well as to evaluate therapeutic strategies to slow or stop progression of PD.