Uncontrolled release of Ca(2+) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) contributes to the reperfusion-induced cardiomyocyte injury, e.g. hypercontracture and necrosis. To find out the underlying cellular mechanisms of this phenomenon, we investigated whether the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores (MPTP), resulting in ATP depletion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, ma...

Paeonol is a major phenolic compound of the Chinese herb, Cortex Moutan, and is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanisms of paeonol on a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine/probenecid (MPTP/p)-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). MPTP (25 mg/kg), f...

Administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to mice and nonhuman primates causes a parkinsonian disorder characterized by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra and corresponding motor deficits. MPTP has been proposed to exert its neurotoxic effects through a variety of mechanisms, including inhibition of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory...

Recent studies provide evidence that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) may play a role in the development of experimental parkinsonism. In this investigation an attempt was made to determine a possible protective effect of quinacrine (QNC), a PLA2 inhibitor on MPTP as well as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in rodents. For MPTP studies, adult male mice (C57 BL) were treated with MPTP (30...

Ablation of mouse occipital cortex induces precisely timed and uniform p53-modulated and Bax-dependent apoptosis of thalamocortical projection neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) by 7 d after lesion. We tested the hypothesis that this neuronal apoptosis is initiated by oxidative stress and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). Preapoptotic LGN neurons accumul...

Parkinson disease is a neurological disorder accompanied by degeneration of dopaminergic system and neuronal loss. Recently studies have focused on stem cells therapy, therefore the goal of this study was to investigate the effect of adipose derived stem cells grafting, on locomotion and imbalance in Parkinson model of rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into thre...

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is a non-specific pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) whose opening is triggered by high matrix [Ca2+] to which it is sensitized by [Pi] and oxidative stress. MPTP opening plays a critical role in necrotic cell death such as in cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the action of cytotoxic drugs. Indeed MPTP inhibition with...

The present study has been evaluated the neuroprotective effect of Hypericum perforatum extract on the reaction of astrocytes in mice brain treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (20 mg/kg with 2 hr intervals). Treatment with Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE) resulted in an inhibition of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity and reduced ...

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment leads to marked depletion of dopamine (DA) levels in the nigrostriatal pathway and dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in caudate-putamen and substantia nigra. MPTP is believed to inhibit complex I of the electron transport system leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species. We sought to test the hypotheses that MPTP treatmen...