C60 fullerenes increase the intensity of rotational movements in non-anesthetized hemiparkinsonic rats

The effect of C₆₀ fullerene aqueous colloid solution (C₆₀FAS) on the intensity of long-lasting (persisting for one hour) rotational movements in non-anesthetized rats was investigated. For this purpose, an experimental hemiparkinsonic animal model was used in the study. Rotational movements in hemiparkinsonic animals were initiated by the intraperitoneal administration of the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine. It was shown that a preliminary injection of C₆₀FAS (a substance with powerful antioxidant properties) in hemiparkinsonic rats induced distinct changes in animal motor behavior. It was revealed that fullerene-pretreated animals, in comparison with non-pretreated or vehicle-pretreated rats, rotated for 1 h at an approximately identical speed until the end of the experiment, whereas the rotation speed of control rats gradually decreased to 20–30% of the initial value. One can assume that the observed changes in the movement dynamics of the hemiparkinsonic rats after C₆₀FAS pretreatment presumably can be induced by the influence of C₆₀FAS on the dopaminergic system, although the isolated potentiation of the action of apomorphine C₆₀FAS cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, earlier data on the action of C₆₀FAS on muscle dynamics has suggested that C₆₀FAS can activate a protective action of the antioxidant system in response to long-lasting muscular activity and that the antioxidant system in turn may directly decrease fatigue-related changes during long-lasting muscular activity.