Amlodipine Abridged Calcium Associated Complex-I Inhibition in 6-OHDA Lesioned Parkinson’s Rat

Aims: The present study was carried out to evaluate Amlodipine, a L-type calcium channel blocker for alleviating or reducing the neurodegeneration in 6-OHDA lesioned rat models.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, Rocklands, Ooty, India between October 2011 and may 2012.
Methodology: Male adult Wistar rats were given with intra-cerebroventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the median forebrain bundle and treated post 48 hours with Amlodipine (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) per oral for 30 days. Motor coordination, striatal dopamine, mid brain calcium and complex-I activity were estimated. Data were statistically analyzed and p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: Amlodipine regained motor coordination, mid-brain dopamine content, and prevented calcium overload and complex I activity at both dose levels when compared with 6-OHDA control group. Alleviation of calcium overload and complex I inhibition with subsequent increase in dopamine level in Parkinson’s rats were observed at the end of treatment period.
Conclusion: The experimental study gave light to a new therapeutic intervention of Amlodipine in preventing neuronal morbidity in Parkinson’s disease (PD). So, further neuro-molecular study with Amlodipine in experimental PD is warranted in future.