Pentoxifylline Neuroprotective Effects Are Possibly Related to Its Anti-Inflammatory and TNF-Alpha Inhibitory Properties,in the 6-OHDA Model of Parkinson's Disease

Pentoxifylline (ptx) is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with anti-tnf-alpha activity,associated with its anti-inflammatory action. considering parkinson's disease (pd) as a neuroinflammatory disorder,the objectives were to evaluate ptx neuroprotective properties,in a model of pd. male wistar rats,divided into sham-operated (so),untreated 6-ohda,and 6-ohda treated with ptx (10,25,and 50 mg/kg) groups,received a unilateral 6-ohda injection,except the so group administered with saline. treatments started 24 h after surgery and continued for 15 days when the animals were submitted to apomorphine-induced rotations,open field,and forced swimming tests. at the next day,they were euthanized and their striata processed for neurochemical (da and dopac determinations),histological,and immunohistochemical (fluoro-jade,th,dat,ox-42,tnf-alpha,cox-2,and inos) studies. ptx reversed the behavioral changes observed in the untreated 6-ohda animals. furthermore,ptx partially reversed the decrease in da contents and improved neuronal viability. in addition,decreases in immunostaining for th and dopamine transporter (dat) were reversed. the untreated 6-ohda group showed intense ox-42,tnf-alpha,cox-2,and inos immunoreactivities,which were attenuated by ptx. in conclusion,we demonstrated a neuroprotective effect of ptx,possibly related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions,indicating its potential as an adjunct treatment for pd. © 2015 kelly rose tavares neves et al.