Correlation of Behavioral Changes and Survival Rate of Dopaminergic Neurons in the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta in Parkinsonian Rat Model

Objective To explore the correlation of behavioral changes and survival rate of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in parkinsonian rat model.Methods The parkinsonian rat model was established by mechanical transection of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway at the medial forebrain bundle (MFB).Behavioral studies were carried out by apomorphine challenge.Immunohistochemistry was applied on the tissue sections of substantia nigra (SN).The number of dopaminergic neurons was determined by counting the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)positive neurons in the sections.Results Immunohistochemical studies confirmed a significant loss of TH-positive neurons on the lesioned side,while the rotations induced by apomorphine increased remarkably in the parkinsonian rat model.Conclusions At 4 weeks after the surgery,there is a significant inverse correlation between the number of apomorphineinduced rotations and the decreased survival rate of neurons in parkinsonian rat models established by mechanical transection of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway at the medial forebrain bundle.