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Simvastatin Prevents Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration In Experimental Parkinsonian Models: The Association With Anti-Inflammatory Responses, Junqiang Yan, Yunqi Xu, Cansheng Zhu, Limin Zhang, Aimin Wu, Yu Yang, Zhaojun Xiong, Chao Deng, Xu-Feng Huang, Midori A. Yenari, Yuan-Guo Yang, Weihai Ying, Qing Wang

Xu-Feng Huang

Background: In addition to their original applications to lowering cholesterol, statins display multiple neuroprotective effects. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors interact closely with the dopaminergic system and are strongly implicated in therapeutic paradigms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study aims to investigate how simvastatin impacts on experimental parkinsonian models via regulating NMDA receptors. Methodology/Principal Findings: Regional changes in NMDA receptors in the rat brain and anxiolytic-like activity were examined after unilateral medial forebrain bundle lesion by 6-hydroxydopamine via a 3-week administration of simvastatin. NMDA receptor alterations in the post-mortem rat brain were detected by [3H]MK-801(Dizocilpine) binding autoradiography. 6-hydroxydopamine treated PC12 was applied …