Motor disturbances and thalamic electrical power of frequency bands' improve by grape seed extract in animal model of Parkinson's disease

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

1 Physiology Research Center (PRC), Medicinal Plant Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishpur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, I.R. Iran

2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Damghan Islamic Azad University, Damghan, I.R. Iran

3 Iranian Neurosciences Research Network and Neurosciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran

4 Faculty of veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, I.R. Iran

5 Department of physiology, Medicine Faculty, Physiology Research Center (PRC), Ahvaz Jundishpur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, I.R. Iran

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies showed that grape seed extract (GSE) is an excellent natural substance with potent antioxidant effect and free radical scavenger. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of GSE on motor dysfunctions and thalamic local Electroencephalography (EEG) frequency bands' powers in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Materials and Methods: In this study 8 µg 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) dissolved in 2 µl normal saline containing 0.01% ascorbic acid was infused into right medial forebrain bundle (MFB) to make an animal model of PD. Rats with PD received four weeks GSE (100 mg/kg, p.o.) after apomorphine-induced rotation test. Spontaneous motor tests and also thalamic ventroanterior nucleus (AV) local EEG recording were done in freely moving rats in all groups.
Results: Chronic treatment of PD rats with GSE could influence potentially frequency bands' powers of thalamic VA and improve post-lesion motor dysfunctions significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that GSE modulates the CNS function and has beneficial effects on the direct and indirect striato-thalamo-cortical pathways in PD. GSE acts as a new and potent natural free radical scavenger which removes oxidants produced by neurotoxin 6-OHDA in brain. Therefore, it reinforces electrical power of remained thalamic VA neurons and thereby improves post-lesion motor disorders.

Keywords