Effects of Nicotine on MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease Animal Model / 대한해부학회지

ABSTRACT

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Despite extensive researches, the etiology of this disease is still unknown; however, the prevalence of PD is lower in the population of cigarette smokers. In this study, the effects of nicotine were investigated on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease animal model and the spontaneous locomotor activity was analyzed. In comparison with MPTP-induced PD animals, nicotine-treated PD animals exhibited significant improvement in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc, the relative density of dopaminergic axon terminals in the striatum, and locomotor activity. Also, MPTP-induced astrogliosis was prevented by nicotine treatment. These results suggest that the dopamine depletion in the SNpc and striatum and the decreased spontaneous locomotor activity were prevented by nicotine treatment in the MPTP-induced PD animal model.