Protective effect of bacterial melanin in the substantia nigra in a rat model of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

The major cause of Parkinson's disease is progressive disturbance of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, as well as their nerve endings located in the striatum. Therefore, therapy aimed at slowing the death of dopaminergic neurons can be effective. In recent decades, various types of neuroprotective agents have been successfully used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, after which the restoration of structural disfunctions of the CNS is accelerated. In the present study, we used bacterial melanin, the therapeutic effect of which is due to the improvement of the trophic effects of the brain tissue, inhibition of the inflammatory process and gliosis. The comparative study of morphological and functional state of the substantia nigra pars compacta in a rotenone model of Parkinson's disease and combined with introduction of bacterial melanin was carried out. For morphological and histochemical study, the method of detecting the activity of Ca2 + - dependent acid phosphatase was used. The analysis of the data obtained showed that during rotenone intoxication, neuronal death and substantia nigra depigmentation are observed, as well as sharp morphological changes in intracellular structures occur, which indicates gross metabolic and morphological disorders. With the introduction of bacterial melanin, there is a tendency to preserve the normal morphological picture of the neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta, in comparison with the Parkinson's disease model. Thus, bacterial melanin acts as a neuroprotective agent and has a supportive role in Parkinson's disease. 
 Keywords: bacterial melanin, Parkinson's Disease, substantia nigra