Cinnarizine, a Calcium Channel Blocker, Partially Prevents the Striatal Dopamine Decline and Loss of Nigral Dopamine Neurons in the Lactacystin-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT: Selective proteasome inhibitors, used to model Parkinsonian-like pathology, are known to disrupt calcium homeostasis, but the role of calcium ions in dopaminergic neuron degeneration remains unclear. The present in vivo study examined the effects of a 7-day intraperitoneal administration of cinnarizine (10 or 30 mg/kg), a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, in rats unilaterally injected into the substantia nigra compacta (SNc) with lactacystin (Lac; 1 µg/2 µL) or vehicle. Dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were quantified in striatal homogenates via high-performance liquid chromatography. The SN of rats treated with 10 mg/kg cinnarizine was used for Western blot analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), while tissue from animals receiving 30 mg/kg was processed for histological analysis of

SUBMITTER: Lorenc-Koci E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12469328 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature