Category: Neuropharmacology
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of E2 and P4 on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO), oxidative stress and expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1), tyrosine hydroxylase (p-TH), nerve growth factor (NGF), and testing learning memory, in naturally menopausal female rats of 3 months (young), 12 months (adult) and 24 months (old) age groups.
Background: Aging of the normal brain is accompanied by changes in its structure, function, and metabolism. Most of these changes increase during menopausal condition in females when the level of 17 β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) are decreased.
Method: The aged rats (12 and 24 months old) (n= 8 for each group) were given subcutaneous injection of E2 (0.1 µg/g body weight) daily and P4 (2.5 µg/g body weight) was injected on alternate days for one month. For the combined treatment similar concentrations of E2 and P4 were given daily. At the end of the treatment period, frontal cortex (FC), striatum (STR), and hippocampus (HP) were isolated for further studies. The learning and memory function were assessed by Morris water maze test.
Results: The results obtained in the present work revealed that normal aging was associated with significant increases in the activity of MAO, lipid peroxidation levels, and a decrease in antioxidant status, GLUT 1, NGF expression, memory functions and AChE activity in rats. There was a significantly increased PPARγ, p-TH expression and alleviated TNF-α, IL-1β in various brain areas compared with the E2, P4 and combined treatment group (E+P). Our data showed that (E+P) group, effectively brought these changes to near normalcy in aging female rats.
Conclusion: Present study elucidates an antioxidant, neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects of E2, and P4 in aging rats and therapeutic potential for adjunctive therapy along with dopamine replacement in PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
P. Kumar, N. Baquer. Neuroprotective effects of estradiol and progesterone in brain of different age groups of naturally menopausal rats.: A therapeutic potential drug for Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neuroprotective-effects-of-estradiol-and-progesterone-in-brain-of-different-age-groups-of-naturally-menopausal-rats-a-therapeutic-potential-drug-for-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed June 14, 2025.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neuroprotective-effects-of-estradiol-and-progesterone-in-brain-of-different-age-groups-of-naturally-menopausal-rats-a-therapeutic-potential-drug-for-parkinsons-disease/