Possible association between psychophysiological stress and Parkinson's Disease in a model of parkinsonism induced by reserpine

• Grant number: 16/13506-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2016
• End date: October 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Regina Helena da Silva
• Grantee: Laura Faria de Moraes Olivatto
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD), a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is associated with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta and striatum. In addition, several studies speculate that oxidative stress take part in reduction of dopamine levels.Although some cases of the disease can be attributed to genetic and environmental influences, the cause of most of the cases is still unknown. Chronic psychophysiological stress as a predisposing factor for Parkinson's disease is still poorly studied, but the hypothesis is corroborated by many clinical and laboratory indications. Hence, this study aims to investigate the correlation between a previous exposition to a chronic mild stress protocol and the onset of parkinsonism signs in Wistar rats repeatedly treated with a low dose of reserpine.