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BackgroundParkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder strongly associated with dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and alpha-synuclein pathology. Paraquat (PQ) has been implicated in Parkinsonian neurodegeneration; however, the influence of age on susceptibility to PQ-induced neuropathology remains insufficiently characterized.AimThis study investigated age-dependent effects of paraquat exposure on neurobehaviour, substantia nigra histomorphology, and serum alpha-synuclein levels in male Wistar rats.MethodsSixty-three male Wistar rats were assigned into juvenile, young adult, and adult age categories, each further subdivided into control, PQ-treated, and PQ+recovery groups. Paraquat (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was administered twice weekly for three weeks. Recovery groups were maintained for a two-month post-exposure period. Neurobehavioral assessments were conducted to evaluate locomotor and anxiety-related functions. Serum and nigral alpha-synuclein concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while histological examination of the substantia nigra was performed to assess neuronal integrity.ResultsAdult rats exhibited a significant reduction in locomotor activity following PQ exposure (p = 0.020) and showed more prominent histopathological alterations within the substantia nigra compared with juvenile and young-adult animals. Although improvement in tissue architecture was observed following paraquat withdrawal, residual alterations persisted, particularly in adults. Nigral alpha-synuclein concentrations did not differ significantly among treatment groups in any age cohort. Serum alpha-synuclein levels were similarly unchanged in most groups, except for a reduction observed in recovering young-adult animals (p = 0.039).ConclusionAge influences vulnerability to PQ-induced neurotoxicity, with adult animals showing greater susceptibility to behavioral and histological damage. However, serum total alpha-synuclein levels did not consistently parallel central neuropathology, suggesting limited reliability as a standalone peripheral biomarker of PQ-induced Parkinsonism.
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