2.1. Ethical approval
Experimental animals were obtained from the central animal house of ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, India. The Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC) approved the experimental protocol (ISFCP/IAEC/CPCSEA/2021/Protocol no. 501/ meeting no. 30), and the experiments were conducted in compliance with CPCSEA guidelines for the ethical use and care of experimental animals.
2.2. Animal grouping
Male Wistar rats (180-230g) are randomly divided into 4 groups (7 rats in each) mentioned in TABLE 1. All the rats were housed in sterile polyacrylic cages in an animal house with air-conditioning having a temperature of 25 ± 3oC, RH 55-60%, and a light/dark cycle for 12 hours. The water and food were supplied on an ad libitum basis. The behavioural parameters were performed between 9:00 and to17:00 hours.
2.3. Experimental protocol and treatment schedule
The study was conducted for 33 days including training days from 1st to 5th and the experimental protocol was for 28 days. The detailed experimental protocol is illustrated in Fig 1.
The saline, MnCl2 and rotenone were administered to the respective group of animals for 28 days via the intraperitoneal route. The dose of MnCl2 was 15mg/kg and rotenone was 1mg/kg. The combination group received both MnCl2 (15mg/kg) and rotenone (1mg/kg) for 28 days.
2.4. Chemicals and reagents
Rotenone and MnCl2 were procured from (Sigma Aldrich, USA). ELISA kits for IL-6, and Caspase-3, were purchased from (Elabsciences, China). All the solutions used in the study were freshly prepared and were of analytical grade.
2.5. Parameters evaluated
2.5.1. Behavioural test
2.5.1.1. Strength glass chamber
This is a novel apparatus used to access the motor coordination and grip strength of rodents. This is a rectangular glass chamber and measures 40cm×40cm×80cm (LxBxH). There is a water outlet at the bottom, and a rod connected to the top has a curtain hanging from it for rats to climb from the bottom towards the rod. The rod is situated 2.5cm from the back wall, and the curtain is 44cm long and fixed 20cm above the bottom of the chamber. The time taken for the rat to climb from the bottom to the top is recorded, with a maximum time limit of 120 seconds.
2.5.1.2. String test
The String test apparatus is employed for evaluating the grip strength of rats. The apparatus comprises a slender steel wire measuring 2mm in diameter and 35cm in length. The apparatus is mounted at a height of 50cm above the ground, and the rat is positioned with its forepaws on the wire and allowed to hang. The time taken by the rat to hold onto the wire was noted in seconds. The latency time is an indirect measurement of the rat's grip or muscle strength when perched on the wire [14].
2.5.2. Biochemical tests
2.5.2.1. Estimation of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH)
LDH is a soluble enzyme found in the cytoplasm of the cell that defines the extent of cell damage. It is a marker of cellular oxidative stress. LDH level was estimated by using a commercial kit (coral clinical system). The brain was homogenized and centrifuged. The supernatant was taken and the LHD level was estimated as per the procedure given in the kit [15].
2.5.2.2. Estimation of Malondialdehyde (MDA)
MDA was quantified in brain homogenate using a spectrophotometric method, and the results were expressed in nmol/mg protein. To measure MDA, 0.2 ml of 8.1% SDS was mixed with 0.2 ml of tissue homogenate and 1.5 ml of a 20% solution of acetic acid. The resulting solution had a pH of 3.5. Next, 1.5 ml of a 0.8% aqueous solution of TBA was added, and the final volume was adjusted to 4.0 ml with distilled water. The solution was heated in a water bath at 95oC for 60 minutes and then allowed to cool. After cooling, 1 ml of distilled water, 5.0 ml of n-butanol, and 15:1 (v/v) pyridine were added, and the mixture was shaken vigorously. The reaction solution was centrifuged at 4oC for 10 minutes at 4000 rpm, and the amount of MDA was measured at 532 nm. All assay samples were run in triplicate [16].
2.5.3. Molecular markers and neurotransmitters
The molecular markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) [17] and Caspase-3 [18] were determined by using an ELISA kit as described manner in rat brain homogenate. The level of dopamine (DA) [19] and glutamate [20] was estimated by RP-HPLC-ECD as described in previous studies. BreezeTM 2 software was used to record and analyse the HPLC data.
2.6. Statistical analysis
The data were presented as mean ± SEM. The data from the behavioural analysis were analyzed by applying a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni post hoc test. p˂0.05 was considered statistically significant. For biochemicals, molecular and neurotransmitters assessment, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied and for multiple comparisons, Tukey’s post hoc test is used. p˂0.05 was considered statistically significant.