Background and purpose: Progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain is the main mechanism of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Although potassium channels affect neural activity and death in this area, little research has investigated the effect of potassium channel blockers, such as 4-aminopyridine in the pretreatment of PD. Methods: Fifty-six healthy male Wistar rats were selecte...

Although exercise usually improves motor performance, the underlying cellular changes in the cerebellum remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether and how chronic treadmill exercise in young rats induced Purkinje cell changes to improve motor performance and rendered the cerebellum less vulnerable to toxin insults. After 1-wk familiarization of treadmill running, 6-wk-old ...

Several lines of evidence show that homocysteine (Hcy) levels are increased in blood and CSF of patients with Parkinson's disease. B vitamins are necessary for Hcy metabolism and their deficiencies cause hyperhomocysteinemia and neurodegeneration. In present study, effect of B vitamin supplementation on the severity of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinsonism was investigated. Rats were ...

Leptocarpus disjunctus Mast. (Restionaceae) is an edible plant which has indigenous warnings regarding its side effects which can manifest as dizziness. This study investigated hypnotic and anxiolytic properties using several animal models. Anxiolytic activities were evaluated using locomotor determination by elevated plus-maze test, open-field test, and rotarod performance test. Hypnotic activ...

Thirty-seven arylcyclohexylamines including phencyclidine (PCP) and derivatives, N[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP) and derivatives and N-[1-(2-benzo(b)thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (BTCP) were assessed for their ability to inhibit [3H]PCP binding and [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) synaptosomal uptake. Their pharmacological property (ataxia) was measured by means of the rotarod test. A very g...

Deficits in motor function are debilitating features in disorders affecting neurological, neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems. Although these disorders can vary greatly with respect to age of onset, symptomatic presentation, rate of progression and severity, the study of these disease models in mice is confined to the use of a small number of tests, most commonly the rotarod test. To expa...

BACKGROUND Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is caused by the deficiency of alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA), which is involved in the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate in the lysosome. It has been reported that joint symptoms are almost universal in MPS I patients, and even in the case of attenuated disease, they are the first symptom that brin...