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Parkinson's disease, characterised by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), is the second neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's, affecting approximately 1% of the population aged around 65. The disease is characterised clinically by resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist, has been shown to attenuate dopaminergic cell loss in the MPTP animal model of PD, an effect attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the motor and cognitive effects obtained by pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist, in an intranigral MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease model. Results showed that acute treatment generated some levels of neuroprotection. In contrast, chronic treatment led to a reduction in striatal DA caused by MPTP. These findings suggest that acute administration of pioglitazone 30mg/kg was more effective in generating beneficial effects on motor behaviour and striatal DA levels.
About the author
Dott.ssa Janaina Kohl - Farmacista-Biochimica, con esperienza in Analisi Clinica e Farmacia Commerciale e di Manipolazione. Master e dottorato in Farmacologia del Sistema Nervoso Centrale, con particolare attenzione al morbo di Parkinson, presso l'Università Federale di Paraná, Brasile e professore di Fisiologia e Farmacologia Umana e Applicata.
