Effects of B. caapi extract on neurochemical alterations caused by selective lesion of Locus coeruleus, in vivo, in the non-motor symptoms of 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease and in vitro 3D cell culture overexpressing alpha-synuclein

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder well known for its progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc, in addition to a part of catecholaminergic neurons of Locus coeruleus (LC), show a significant degeneration in patients. Consequently, evidence shows that the progression of the pathology, as well as the degeneration of the brain nuclei in PD, follows a rostro-caudal pathway. Banisteriopsis caapi is a vine that has alkaloids belonging to the group of beta-carbolines, with inhibitory properties of monoanine oxidases and antioxidant activity. Some studies showed an increased dopamine release in brain slices of animals treated with B. caapi extract. In addition, chronic harmin administration reduces immobility time, increases climbing and swimming time, returning anecdotal behavior leading to increased levels of neurotrophins in animal hippocampi. The aims of this project are investigated the effects of the treatment of B. caapi extract on the neurochemical alterations caused by the selective lesion of Locus coeruleus in an animal model of non-motor alterations of Parkinson's disease and in vitro in 3D culture of cells that express alpha-synuclein. (AU)