Apoptotic Mediators are Upregulated in the Skeletal Muscle of Chronic/Progressive Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Abstract

Apoptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD). Parkinson disease is characterized by skeletal muscle abnormalities. The aim of this study is to illustrate the impact of PD induction on the expression of apoptotic mediators. Twenty normal albino mice were randomly selected and equally divided in control and PD groups. Chronic Parkinsonism was induced in the PD group using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and probenecid (MPTP/p). After that, samples from gastrocnemius muscles were evaluated by immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of p53 and active caspase-3 in the two groups of animals. P53 and active caspase-3 expression was significantly higher in gastrocnemius skeletal muscle in PD mice compared with that in the control mice (P value <0.01). Furthermore, we show PD gastrocnemius muscle atrophy measured by significant reduction (P < 0.01) in the muscle fiber cross-sectional area. Thus, our present data suggest that PD induction increased the expression of the apoptotic mediators p53 and active caspase-3 in gastrocnemius muscle, indicating the induction of apoptosis, which was correlative with gastrocnemius muscle atrophy subsequent to the induction of PD.