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Long-term exposure to cypermethrin induces the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration in adult rats and its pre-exposure in the critical periods of brain development enhances the susceptibility during adulthood. Monoamine transporters, xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and oxidative stress play critical roles in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration. The study was undertaken to investigate the effects of cypermethrin on DAT, VMAT 2, CYP2E1, GST Ya, GST Yc and GSTA4-4 expressions, CYP2E1 and GST activities and lipid peroxidation in the nigrostriatal system of adult rats with/without post-natal exposure to cypermethrin. Cypermethrin reduced VMAT 2 and increased CYP2E1 expressions without causing significant change in DAT. Although GSTA4-4 mRNA expression and lipid peroxidation were increased, no significant changes were observed in GST Ya and GST Yc expressions and total GST activity. The results obtained demonstrate that long-term exposure to cypermethrin modulates VMAT 2, CYP2E1, GSTA4-4 expressions and lipid peroxidation, which could contribute to the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) on glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) activities and on the expressions of cytosolic Cu, Zn-SOD (SOD1), mitochondrial Mn-SOD (SOD2), γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the nigrostriatal tissue of rats. Additionally, Zn-induced alterations in the neurobehavioral parameters, lipid peroxidation (LPO), striatal dopamine and its metabolites and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein expression were measured to assess their correlations with the oxidative stress. Zn exposure reduced the locomotor activity, rotarod performance, striatal dopamine and its metabolites and TH protein expression. LPO, total SOD, SOD1 and SOD2 activities were increased while GST and catalase were reduced in a dose and time dependent manner. Expressions of SOD1 and HO-1 were increased while no change was observed in SOD2 and γ-GCS expressions. The results obtained suggest that Zn-induced augmentation of total SOD, SOD1, SOD2 and HO-1 was associated with increased oxidative stress and neurodegenerative indexes indicating the involvement of both cytosolic and mitochondrial machinery in Zn-induced oxidative stress leading to dopaminergic neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]