Protective effect of caffeine against neurodegeneration in a model of Parkinson's disease in rat: behavioral and histochemical evidence

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2004 Dec;10(8):465-8. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2004.06.004.

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated an inverse association between coffee consumption and Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was designed to investigate the beneficial effect of caffeine at a dose comparable to that of human exposure in a model of PD. For this purpose, unilateral intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rats were pretreated with caffeine (20 mg/kg; i.p.) 1 h before surgery and treated twice a day (10 mg/kg) for 1 month. Apomorphine-induced rotations and number of Nissl-stained neurons of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) were counted. The results demonstrated that caffeine administration for 1 month could attenuate the rotational behavior in lesioned rats and protect the neurons of SNC against 6-OHDA toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Apomorphine / pharmacology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Caffeine / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Count
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use*
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Male
  • Nerve Degeneration / pathology
  • Nerve Degeneration / prevention & control*
  • Nerve Degeneration / psychology
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / prevention & control*
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / psychology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Rotation
  • Stereotyped Behavior / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Caffeine
  • Apomorphine