The Effect of Vitamin E on the Expression of Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway genes in the Cerebellar Tissue of the Parkinson's Rat Model

Parkinson's disease is one of the debilitating diseases which is more common amongst the elderly; oxidative stress has been found to be one of its major causes. In this study, therefore, the effect of vitamin E on the expression of Bcl-2 family genes was studied.

A total of 24 adult rats were purchased from the Pasteur Institute of Iran. The rats were later divided into 4 groups: control group, control group receiving VitE, PD group, PD group receiving VitE. After RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and primer design of Bax and Bcl-2 genes, their expressions were studied in different rat groups by RT-PCR technique.

The mitochondrial apoptotic gene expressions were affected by vitamin E administration. Vitamin E decreased the expression of Bax gene and overexpressed Bcl-2 gene.

Vitamin E plays an important role in reducing the effects of oxidative stress and, consequently, apoptosis in the cerebellar tissue cells of rats with Parkinson's disease.