Sains Malaysiana 53(1)(2024): 49-61

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2024-5301-05

MPTP- Induced BALB/C Mice Recapitulate Compensatory Parkinson’s-Like Motor Features

(MPTP- Mencit Aruhan BALB/C Merupakapitulasikan Pampasan Ciri Motor Seperti Parkinson)

MUSA MUSTAPHA^1,2, CHE NORMA MAT TAIB^1,*, SHARIDA FAKURAZI¹ & MOHAMAD ARIS MOHD MOKLAS¹

¹Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

²Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Received: 2 June 2023/Accepted: 2 January 2024

Abstract

This study aimed to assess motor responses and associated pathological changes caused by MPTP neurotoxicity in Balb/c mice. Male mice (13 weeks old, 25-30 g) were divided into four groups and received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline or different doses of MPTP-HCl for five consecutive days. Body weight was monitored, and behavioral tests were conducted. Histological examination with H&E staining was performed on the striatum and substantia nigra. Contrary to expectations, MPTP-treated mice showed increased locomotor activity in the open field test, covering a greater distance and exhibiting more rearing compared to control mice (p<0.05). The catalepsy test also showed lower catalepsy scores in the MPTP-treated group (p<0.05). However, the pole test did not indicate the presence of MPTP-induced bradykinesia (p>0.05). Similarly, the traction and hang tests showed no significant effects of MPTP on motor balance or muscle strength (p>0.05). Among the MPTP-treated groups, the 30 mg/kg MPTP-HCl group displayed the most severe pathological changes, including reactive gliosis, as observed in histological examination. In conclusion, the subacute MPTP mouse model used in this study did not exhibit noticeable motor deficits or significant weight loss in Balb/c mice, possibly due to subthreshold dopamine depletion compensatory mechanisms. This model could provide valuable insights into the compensatory mechanisms involved in Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: Balb/c mice; MPTP; Parkinson's-like symptoms

Abstrak

Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk menilai respons motor dan perubahan patologi yang berkaitan disebabkan oleh neurotoksin MPTP pada model tikus Balb/c untuk penyakit Parkinson. Mencit jantan Balb/c berumur 13 minggu dan berat antara 25-30 g telah dibahagikan secara rawak kepada empat kumpulan. Mereka menerima suntikan intraperitoneal dengan larutan garam fisiologi 0.9% atau dos berbeza MPTP-HCl selama lima hari berturut-turut. Berat badan tikus dipantau dan ujian tingkah laku dilakukan. Setelah itu, pemeriksaan histologi menggunakan pewarnaan H&E dilakukan pada striatum dan substantia nigra. Berbeza dengan jangkaan, mencit yang diberikan MPTP menunjukkan aktiviti lokomotor yang meningkat dalam ujian lapangan terbuka, menempuh jarak yang lebih jauh dan menunjukkan lebih banyak gerakan memanjat berbanding dengan mencit kawalan (p<0.05). Ujian katalepsi juga menunjukkan skor katalepsi yang lebih rendah pada kumpulan yang diberikan MPTP (p<0.05). Walau bagaimanapun, ujian tiang tidak menunjukkan kehadiran bradikinesia yang disebabkan oleh MPTP (p>0.05). Begitu juga, ujian daya tarikan dan gantungan tidak menunjukkan kesan yang signifikan MPTP terhadap keseimbangan motor atau kekuatan otot mencit (p>0.05). Antara kumpulan yang diberikan MPTP, kumpulan MPTP-HCl dengan dos 30 mg/kg menunjukkan perubahan patologi yang paling teruk, termasuk hipokromasia dan gliosis yang teruk, seperti yang dilihat dalam pemeriksaan histologi. Secara kesimpulannya, model mencit MPTP subakut yang digunakan dalam kajian ini tidak menunjukkan ketidakupayaan motor yang ketara atau kehilangan berat badan yang signifikan pada mencit Balb/c. Ini mungkin disebabkan oleh mekanisme pampasan yang mengatasi penurunan dopamin melalui pemulihan dan mekanisme kelebihan. Model ini dapat memberikan pandangan yang berharga mengenai mekanisme pampasan yang terlibat dalam penyakit Parkinson.

Kata kunci:  Gejala seperti Parkinson; Mencit Balb/c; MPTP

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*Corresponding author; email: chenorma@upm.edu.my