Abstract
Recent studies have revealed that microglia play critical roles in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease and Huntington disease. In the present study, we sought to determine the hypothesis that glucocorticoids may modulate microglial activation in animal model of Parkinson disease. The present study investigated microglial activation and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) following acute MPTP treatment in sham-operated mice, adrenalectomized mice (ADX) and ADX plus corticosterone treated mice. The number of dopaminergic neuron was significantly decreased in ADX mice 7 days after MPTP treatment as compared to sham-operated mice. In addition, the enhanced microglial activation occurred in the SNpc in ADX mice as compared to that of sham group. Furthermore, the dopaminergic neurodegeneration as well as microglial activation was substantially recovered in ADX plus corticosterone treated mice. Thus, the present study indicates the possibility that glucocorticoids may inhibit microglial activation and dopaminergic neurodegeneration. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S49]
