Evaluation of glial cells in the respiratory nuclei in an animal model of Parkinson's Disease with apocynin treatment

• Grant number: 22/02165-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Bárbara Falquetto
• Grantee: Nayani Gomes de Lira Soares
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/00065-1 - Oxidative stress in respiratory control of Parkinson Disease animal model, AP.JP

Abstract

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Substantia Nigra (SN). It presents motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, movement rigidity and postural instability. And there are also progressive non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and cardiorespiratory dysfunctions. Respiratory symptoms are triggered by upper airway obstruction and degeneration of neurons in the respiratory nuclei, which are located in the brainstem and are responsible for neural control of breathing. Currently, it is known that astrocytes, present in the brainstem, play a role in chemoreception and in the modulation of neuronal respiratory activity. Furthermore, the inflammatory response observed in PD activates astrocytes and microglia, causing the excessive production of neurotoxic molecules, which result in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) favoring the neurodegeneration present in PD. On the other hand, it is known that apocynin, which acts as a non-specific inhibitor of NADPH oxidase, is able to prevent the formation of superoxides and prevent damage in PD. Therefore, the objective of this project is to evaluate the participation of glial cells in the respiratory control regions in the animal model of PD and if the treatment with apocynin is able to promote changes in them and prevent respiratory damage since these cells express the enzyme NADPH oxidase. (AU)