Increase of oxidative stress and accumulation of α-synuclein in Wistar rat's midbrain treated with rotenone

Abstract

A neurodegenerative disorder caused by oxidative stress leads to an accumulation of α-synuclein on neurons. Here, we report our findings on the effect of rotenone on the increase of oxidative stress and accumulation of α-synuclein in the midbrain of Wistar rats. Thirty six male rats (8-9 weeks, 200-250 g) were divided into three groups: the Blank group, the Solvent-rotenone group (intraperitoneally injected with 1 ml/kg body weight of sunflower seed oil), and the Rotenone group (intraperitoneally injected with 2.5 mg/kg body weight of rotenone) for 9, 19, and 28 days. The rats were decapitated on day 10 for the 9-day treatment, day 20 for the 19-day treatment, day 30, 40, 50 and 60 for the 28-day treatment (2 rats/group or 6 rats/day of observation time). The midbrains were isolated and extracted. Glutathione assay and α-synuclein ELISA tests were performed. The results showed that the average oxidative stress index was highest in the Blank group (0.95 ± 0.24, 0.63 ± 0.23, 0.81 ± 0.27, respectively). Meanwhile, the concentration of α-Synuclein had decreased in all groups (0.09 ± 0.03, 0.15 ± 0.03, and 0.13 ± 0.02 ng/mg tissue, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that the oxidative stress index was inversely proportional to the concentration of α-synuclein. Our conclusion is that the midbrain of Wistar rats treated with rotenone indicated oxidative stress and led to an accumulation of α-synuclein protein. © 2012 Published by LPPM ITB.