Pretreatment with combination of flunarizine and B vitamins ameliorates behavioral symptoms of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonism in rat

Introduction: Flunarizine (flu) is a calcium channel blocker, which has been shown to have neuroprotective effect. Our previous studies show that B vitamins supplement (B com) ameliorates behavioral symptoms of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced Parkinsonism. In this study, we evaluated the effect of pretreatment with combination of flu and B com on the behavioral symptoms of 6-OHDA-induced Parkinsonism. Materials and methods: Different groups of rats received flu (5 or 10 mg/kg) or B com or combination of them before 6-OHDA injection to three weeks after that. Severity of the Parkinsonism was evaluated by conventional behavioral tests. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration as a marker of oxidative stress was measured in the serum and brain suspension. Results: Pretreatments with flu, significantly ameliorated severity of behavioral symptoms. Pretreatment with combination of flu and B com was more effective than pretreatment with flu or B com alone. Also, pretreatment with B com or combination of B com and flu reduced MDA concentration especially in the brain. On the other hand, pretreatment with flu increased MDA concentration in the serum. Conclusion: Our data indicates that administration of B com in combination with flu augments largely the neuroprotective effect of flu and may ameliorate its movement side effects.

کلیدواژه ها:

6-hydroxydopamine ، Flunarizine ، B vitamins ، Behavioral symptoms ، Malondialdehyde