Quercetin rescues MPP+ –induced Parkinsonian-like locomotor impairment in zebrafish larvae

It was aimed to study the recusing effect of quercetin from 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP + )-induced locomotor behavior deficits in zebrafish larvae by analyzing the locomotor behavior. Zebrafish larvae are used as a model to induce Parkinson’s disease like locomotor phenotypes, by exposing MPP + , a metabolite of 1-methyl,4-phenyl, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, to the zebrafish larvae. Quercetin, a flavonoid possessing strong medicinal properties, was used to rescue zebrafish larvae from the locomotor defects caused by MPP + . The two critical parameters of locomotor behavior, viz. distance travelled and speed of 5 days post-fertilization (dpf) of zebrafish larvae, were analyzed using a video capturing system, ImageJ and wrMTrck plugin. Two days of exposure to MPP + at 1 mM concentration reduced the distance travelled and movement speed in 5 dpf zebrafish larvae. Quercetin treatment of 12 μM concentration for 2 days significantly increased the distance travelled and movement of speed of MPP + -induced zebrafish larvae. Our study showed that 2 days of quercetin are required to completely rescue from MPP + -induced Parkinsonian-like motor defects.