The impact of sesamol and exercise on striatal TNF-α level, motor behavior, aversive memory and oxidative stress status in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play critical roles in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD), and neuroprotective agents could be helpful to slow down the dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Neuroprotective and antioxidant properties of exercise and sesamol have been previously reported. The current research evaluated the influences of sesamol and exercise on memory and motor impairments, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in an experimental model of PD.

6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was microinjected into the medial forebrain bundle of male rats. Treatment with sesamol (50mg/kg) or treadmill exercise was performed for 7 weeks. Behavioral and biochemical assessments were performed at the end of 6th week after 6-OHDA injection.

Net number of rotations and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level was significantly enhanced in 6-OHDA group in comparison with sham group. Also, step-through latency was decreased in this group along with increased lipid peroxidation and decreased total thiol levels in the hippocampus. Moreover, sesamol and exercise, alone or in combination, improved rotational behavior, which was accompanied by decreased striatal TNF-α level. However, sesamol and/or treadmill exercise had no effect on aversive memory, although exercise enhanced hippocampal total thiol level.

Beneficial properties of sesamol and treadmill exercise for amelioration of motor impairments might be due to their anti-inflammatory activities.