Cholecalciferol attenuates induced Parkinson’s like-disease variation and cellular morphology of striatum and substantial Nigra

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is the commonest motor neurodegenerative disorder which affects the dopaminergic neurons and causes significant loss of dopamine. 1-methyl 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) is a selective neurotoxin in the nigrostriatal pathway leading to this motor disorder. Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D₃) has been described as an active neurosteriod with antioxidant properties ubiquitously present in the brain. The study hypothesized that stimulation of vitamin D receptor by cholecalciferol could reduce autophagic cell death and degeneration following a state of drug induced parkinsonism in mice. The aim of the research was to observe the cytoarchitectural, histochemical, neurobehavioural and immunohistochemical effects of cholecalciferol on striatum and substantia nigra in mice model of MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease. Fifty adult male C57BL/6J mice weighing about 25-35g were randomly selected and assigned into 5 groups for this study. The mice were then subjected to neurobehavioural, neurochemical and neuropathological evaluations. The results obtained showed a significant reduction (*p<0.05) in the estimated markers of oxidative stress with high dose of vitamin D₃ following MPTP induction. There was also statistical significant reduction (**p<0.01, ***p<0.001) in the expression of GFAP-immuno-positive cells in the substantia nigra of the experimental mice when compared with the control group. It can be inferred that the administration of Vitamin D₃ was associated with significant attenuation of focal effects linked with MPTP in mice model of Parkinson’s Disease.

Keywords: Aging, Neurodegeneration, Dopaminergic neuron, Vitamin D₃, Environmental toxins