Desferrioxamine and dextromethorphan combination exhibited synergistic effect and reversed the catalepsy behaviour in 6‐hydroxydopamine hydroydopamine administered rats through regulating brain glutamate levels

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of desferrioxamine (DFO) and dextromethorphan (DXM) combination in animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: The PD was induced in rats through intracerebroventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) using stereotaxic apparatus. The animals were subjected to behavioural assessments and neurobiochemicals estimation followed by immunohistochemistry staining of neuron specific enolase (NSE) in striatum. KEY FINDINGS: Desferrioxamine and DXM combination has significantly reversed the catalepsy behaviour and elevated the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH) and dopamine levels. Interestingly, the level of glutamate, nitric oxide, cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α) and NSE expressions were found to be decreased in striatum region of 6-OHDA-administered rats. The combination of DFO and DXM has shown synergism in most of the parameters studied, when compared to per se treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The reversal of catalepsy behaviour represents the protective effect of above combination on dopamine neurons in striatum from 6-OHDA toxicity. The mechanism of DFO and DXM combination might be attributed through attenuation of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in neurons through ameliorating the reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory cytokines release. Treatment with DFO and DXM combination could control the multiple events in the pathogenesis of PD.