Metformin Improves Dopamine Release and Motor Performance in C57BL/6N Mice induced by MPTP: Insights of Alternative Medication for Parkinson’s Disease

It is obvious that Levodopa can effectively ameliorate most of the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. However, Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) experienced due to its long-term usage poses a great concern over it is dependency. Alternative therapies that can equally improve and/or cure the motor symptoms without alarming side effects are unarguably needed. Recently, Metformin, besides being a key player in the management of Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (T2DM), was also found to have some potentials in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, MPTP (1-methyl4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) were used to create the PD models (an established fact supported by multiple studies). Initially, C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (Saline, MPTP, MPTP + Metformin) (n=8, each). Later, MPTP + Metformin group was further sub-divided into 3 and 100, 200; 400 mg/kg metformin was administered to each sub-group accordingly. After a series of behavioral assays, the mice were sacrificed and the brain was taken out to measure the DA release in the striatum using carbon-fiber electrode (amperometric recording). In each case, Metformin proves to be decisive and display convincing/satisfactory results depicting its neuroprotective prowess.