BACKGROUNDDamage of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) results in similar characteristics to the cognitive deficiency seen with the progress of Parkinson's disease (PD). Since the course of mPFC damage is still unclear, our study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin (MT) on neurotoxicity in the mPFC of a rat model of PD.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-four normal, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following five groups: normal + normal saline (NS), normal + 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), sham pinealectomy (PX) + 6-OHDA, PX + 6-OHDA, and MT + 6-OHDA. 6-OHDA was injected into the right substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of each group, except normal + NS, 60 days after the PX. In the MT treatment group, MT was administered immediately after the intraperitoneal injection at 4 p.m. every day, for 14 days. Neuronal apoptosis in the mPFC was examined using the TUNEL method, while the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), Bax,and Bcl-2 in this region was measured using immunohistochemistry. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the mPFC was examined using the thiobarbituric acid method.

RESULTSRats in the normal + 6-OHDA and sham PX + 6-OHDA groups were combined into one group (Group N + 6-OHDA) since there was no significant discrepancy between the groups for all the detected parameters. Apoptosis of cells in the NS, MT + 6-OHDA, N + 6-OHDA, and PX + 6-OHDA groups was successively significantly increased (Hc = 256.25, P < 0.001). The gray value of TH (+) fibers in the NS, MT + 6-OHDA, N + 6-OHDA, and PX + 6-OHDA groups was also successively significantly increased (F = 99.33, P < 0.001). The staining intensities of Bax and Bcl-2 were as follows: Group NS +/+, Group MT + 6-OHDA ++/+, Group N + 6-OHDA ++/+, and PX + 6-OHDA +++/+. The concentrations of MDA in the NS, MT + 6-OHDA, N + 6-OHDA, and PX + 6-OHDA groups were significantly increased in sequence (Hc = 296.309, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSNeuronal damage of the VTA by 6-OHDA might induce VTA-mPFC nerve fibers to undergo anterograde nerve damage, in turn inducing transneuronal damage of the mPFC. PX significantly exacerbated the neurotoxicity in the mPFC, which was induced by the neuronal injury of the VTA. However, MT replacement therapy significantly alleviated the neurotoxicity in the mPFC.