Effects of new neurotensin analogue on brain activity in rat Parkinson's disease model

Parkinson's disease (PD) results in progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons and leads to motor disturbances. The close connection between DA-ergic neurotransmitter system and Neurotensin (NT) mediation was established which suggests that NT is associated with PD. It was reported that NT can modulate the activity of DA neurons. Our previous data demonstrated significant CNS-activity in rodents of some new NT-analogues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential modulating effect of new NT-analogue on the behavior and brain activity in rats with model of PD which was induced in male Wistar rats via unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and verified by apomorphine test. Animals were treated 5 days with new NT analogue in effective doses after the induction of PD. Standard test was used for evaluation of neuro-muscular coordination (Rot-a-Rod). Electroencephalography (EEG) was used also to measure the brain activity in inactive condition. Experimental data were processed by Student-Fisher, or Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis test. Rot-a-rod test showed gradual improvement in the motor performance of NT-treated animals compared to control PD-rats with saline. In the same time EEG showed differences in spectral composition and patterns above the lesioned areas and their hemispheric counterparts in the PD-animals treated with NT-analogue compared to saline treated PD-rats and similarities with the healthy ones. In conclusion the new NT-analogue is promising anti-PD agent and deserves further investigations.