Increase in level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned striatum in rats is suppressed by immunosuppressant FK506

We compared in rats with 6-hydroxydopamine (8-OHDA)-induced hemiparkinsonis m the content of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the nigrostriatal dop aminergic region of the control side with that of the 8-OHDA-injected exper imental side, and explored the effects of 6-OHDA injection combined with th e immunosuppressant FK506 treatment (0.5 or 4 mg/kg per day for 2 weeks). T he ratios of the concentration of TNF-alpha in the striatum and substantia nigra on the 6-OHDA injection side to that on the control side in the 6-OHD A hemiparkinsonism rats were significantly higher than those in the control rats without 6-OHDA treatment, whereas those in the rats treated with 6-OH DA and FK506 were not significantly different from those in the control rat s. Thus FK506 attenuated increased TNF-alpha level in the nigrostriatal dop aminergic region injured by 6-OHDA treatment. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevie r Science Ireland Ltd.