Fig. 3

Effect of SZV compounds on the level of MPTP and MPP⁺ after an acute (b) and subchronic (c) MPTP treatment protocol. a Representative chromatogram generated by UV detection at 253 nm, showing MPTP (1) and MPP⁺ (2). Theophylline was used as internal standard (IS). b Animals were pre-treated with test compounds or their vehicle (VEH) i.p. 18 h before the first dose of MPTP; then treated with MPTP 4×20 mg/kg i.p. 2 h apart. MPTP and MPP⁺ levels were analyzed in striatum samples obtained 72 h after the last dose of MPTP c. Mice were treated with MPTP (30 mg/kg i.p. daily) for 5 days and then, for 21 days with the test compounds or their vehicle (VEH) i.p. and sacrificed 1 h after the last treatment. MPTP and MPP⁺ were analyzed by HPLC and expressed as pmol/mg protein. Note that the y scale in b and c is different. N = 6-8/group. Symbols represent significant changes from vehicle treated rats (*P < 0.05). Statistical analysis: one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey test