Ameliorating effects of curcumin on 6-OHDA-induced dopaminergic denervation, glial response, and SOD1 reduction in the striatum of hemiparkinsonian mice.

W Tripanichkul, E-O Jaroensuppaperch

Index: Eur. Rev. Med. Pharmacol. Sci. 17(10) , 1360-8, (2013)

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Abstract

Inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to contribute to neuronal degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic (DA) pathway in Parkinson's disease. Curcumin, a component of the yellow curry spice, has been reported possessing anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.The present study investigated the effects of curcumin on the extent of DA innervation, glial response, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) expression in the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned mice.6-OHDA was unilaterally injected into the right striatum of ICR male mice. Curcumin (200 mg/kg) was administered daily for 7 days starting instantaneously after 6-OHDA injection. Seven days after 6-OHDA insult, mice were euthanized and striatal sections were collected, immunohistochemically stained, and quantitated for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ionized calcium binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), and SOD1 immunoreactivity.6-OHDA injection triggered a significant loss of TH-immunoreactive (-IR) axons, induced reaction of GFAP-IR astrocytes and Iba1-IR microglia, and decreased SOD1 expression in the 6-OHDA-lesioned striatum. Curcumin attenuated loss of TH-IR fibers, diminished activation of astrocytes and microglia, and sustained SOD1 level in the lesioned striatum.These results suggest that curcumin counteracts the neurotoxicity of 6-OHDA through its anti-inflammatory properties (inhibition of glial response) and preservation of SOD1 expression.