Attenuation of rotenone-induced neurodegeneration by Bacillus coagulans supplementation in zebrafish

Abstract

The relatable therapeutic properties of the selected probiotic (PBT) Bacillus coagulans could make this supplement a potential entity to cease the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). Yet no studies have been carried out to explore the anti-PD activity of this chosen probiotic using the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. However, our research has been performed for 28 consecutive days using zebrafish (n = 12) for each group: control (CNT), rotenone (ROT), and groups administered rotenone along with L-dopa, ROT with PBT, PBT along with L-dopa, and ROT. Following 28 days of treatment, behavioral responses were recorded via novel tank test (NTT) and light-dark test (LDT). Antioxidant biomarkers were estimated along with dopamine (DA) level, aggregated alpha-synuclein (α-syn) level, monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, and nitrite level using brain homogenates. Resulting data indicated that PBT alone and in combination with L-dopa attenuated the ROT-induced behavioral alterations and rescued the altered biomarker activity involved in PD pathophysiology. Furthermore, our observed data from brain histology demarcates towards remarkable prevention of neuronal damage in PBT and PBT + L-dopa-treated zebrafish brains. Collectively, the gross outcome of our study delineates the idea that chronic exposure to ROT is associated with aggressive neurobehavioral transformation, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration in the zebrafish brain that was rescued using PBT supplement pending further clinical studies.