Simvastatin reverses the downregulation of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor expression in the prefrontal cortex of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonian rats

Sprague-Dawley rats with unilateral lesion of the medial forebrain bundle by 6-hydroxydopamine showed marked decrease in the expression of dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks) restored receptor expression to control levels. Given the association of dopaminergic dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex and cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease, these findings may have implication in the treatment of cognitive decline in advanced Parkinson's disease. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.