Neuroprotection of the Striatal Dopaminergic Neurons by Tempol in Aged Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

In the present study, the potential of tempol has been examined as a neuroprotective agent against the toxicity of the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in aged rat. Literature is silent about it. Sprague- Dawley rats were pretreated with tempol and subsequently administered the neurotoxin 6-OHDA into the aged rat striatum. Various behavior and immunohistochemical tests were used to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of tempol. Significant difference in various groups was found (ANOVA, p<0.001) in apomorphine-induced rotational behavior, staircase test success rate&disengage time and (ANOVA, p<0.05) in stepping test, initiation time&postural balance test. On the basis of immunohistochemical changes, the present study concludes that tempol is an effective neuroprotective agent for dopaminergic neurons in 6-OHDA induced aged rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Aged rats showed less neuroprotection in dopaminergic neurons loss than young rats