Cerebellar vs. Cerebral Neurodegeneration: MPTP-Induced Parkinson - Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are severe conditions that affect human health by disrupting neuronal structure and function. Among the most common neurodegenerative diseases are Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). PD is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and the aggregation of alpha-synuclein. MPTP is a widely used neurotoxin to replicate Parkinsonian symptoms in animal models. This study investigates the effects of MPTP on the cerebrum and cerebellum of mice, focusing on oxidative stress markers and neurotransmitter alterations. Mice were administered 14 mg/kg MPTP via intraperitoneal injection in four doses at 2-hour intervals, following Jackson-Lewis & Przedborski’s protocol [Figure 1]. The
results demonstrate that MPTP induces oxidative stress and neurotransmitter depletion in both the cerebrum and cerebellum, leading to neurodegeneration. The findings suggest that MPTP not only impacts the motor function controlled by the cerebellum but also affects cognitive regions in the cerebrum.