Abstract
Some vegetable oils show beneficial effects in modulating neurodegeneration; in this work, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of corn and olive oils against neurodegenerative processes using the acute parkinsonism murine model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in C57BL6 mice. The effects of corn and olive oils were quantified by the performance of mice in the open field and rotarod, and grasp strength tests and neuronal survival in the substantia nigra and striatum were determined by immunohistochemistry. Extra-virgin olive oil decreased the toxicity induced by MPTP administration judged by the performance in the behavioral motor tests and the number of total neurons in the analyzed brain regions. In contrast, corn oil only produced discrete changes in the behavioral and histological evaluations. Despite the numerous benefits of olive oil, its active substances that confer desirable effects and their mechanism of action remain unclear. Our observations can help to understand the ameliorative effects of some natural oils on neurodegeneration induced by some toxins, particularly the attenuation of neural damage related to toxin-induced parkinsonism or other pathologies that comprise neuronal death and motor disruption.
Highlights
The etiology of most neurodegenerative diseases has not been completely elucidated; neurotoxicity is a common factor observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease
A notable improvement was observed after the administration of levodopa or olive oil, but not for the groups treated with saline solution or corn oil
The spontaneous locomotor activity showed a significant difference between the MPTP þ SS group and the groups treated with levodopa and olive oil, which showed more movements from day 2 to day 4, and similar values on the third and fourth days of evaluation when compared to the control group (Figure 1)
Summary
The etiology of most neurodegenerative diseases has not been completely elucidated; neurotoxicity is a common factor observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the theories to explain the pathogenesis of these diseases, researchers have focused on the balance between genetic predisposition, environmental neurotoxins, and diet.[1]. PD is a neurodegenerative disorder, clinically characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, and some nonmotor symptoms, which affects approximately 1–2% of the population above the age of 65 years. The pathogenesis of PD remains elusive due to the global increase of the aging population, there is an urgent need for discovering novel preventive and therapeutic approaches against PD. Despite the efforts of researchers and promising strategies worldwide, no cure for PD
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