Neurochemistry and Neuropharmacology
Author: Florencia Echeverria | Email: florencia.echeverria@uner.edu.ar
Florencia Echeverria1°, Liliana T. Tribbia1°, Andrea C. Cura1°, Roy C. Rivero2°, Irene R. E. Taravini1°
1° Laboratorio de Neurobiología Experimental (LNE)-ICTAER-UNER-CONICET, Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
2° Laboratorio de Desarrollo y Mejoramiento de Alimentos de Calidad a partir de Recursos de Entre Ríos (DyMACRER)-ICTAER-UNER-CONICET, Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos, Argentina.
The precise causes that trigger the dysfunction and death of nigral dopaminergic neurons that lead to the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have not yet been clarified. However, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress have been postulated as mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration. Yerba mate (YM) consumption provides numerous health benefits, which are strongly related to its marked antioxidant activity. In hemiparkinsonian mice, we have observed that chronic treatment with YM exerts a beneficial neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic neurons. Our objective is to elucidate whether the neuroprotective effect of YM is correlated with an enhancement of enzymatic antioxidant systems and/or a decrease in biomarkers of oxidative damage in the striatum of hemiparkinsonian mice. C57BL6J mice received an infusion of YM or water for 4 months. Then, a moderate lesion was induced by an intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA and continued with their treatment until sacrifice, 2 or 30 days postlesion. Analyses are being performed on striatum homogenates in order to study the antioxidant capacity of the tissue (ABTS), the levels of oxidative damage (TBARS) and enzymatic antioxidant systems (NOS, GPX, SOD, CAT) by spectrophotometric and immunohistochemical techniques. These analyses will allow us to establish whether the antioxidant capacity of YM contributes to minimizing the neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal system induced by the action of a pro-oxidant toxin such as 6-OHDA in mice.