author(s)
Khaksar Zabihollah, Azhdari Sara

abstract
Introduction: after Alzheimer, Parkinson’s disease is a common damaging age-related disorder for the central nervous system and nerves. Till now, any research has not been performed associated with the effect of this disease on rat fetuses born to mothers with Parkinson’s disease as well as using of herbal extracts to improve the disease. So the aim of this study is histomorphometric study of lycopene effect on dopamine receptors and GABA neurons in fetuses born to mothers with Parkinson’s disease. Methods: in this study, a number of 65 adult male rats were randomly divided into five groups including control group (without getting any material), lycopene control group (0.5 ml/kg lycopene via gavage), patient group (unilateral injection (6-hydroxy dopaminergic to substantia nigra area by Hamilton needle)), sham group (induction of Parkinson’s disease + 0.02% of ascorbic acid by unilateral injection into substantia nigra area), and treated group with lycopene (induction of Parkinson’s disease + 0.5 ml/kg lycopene). Following the 15th and 19th day of pregnancy, the rats were unconscious, their fetuses were removed and their brains were exited for other process. The density of D1, D2, and GABA receptors were investigated by H-E staining and optical microscopy. Results: The number of receptors (D1, D2, and GABA) in substantia nigra areas and brain cortex of 15 and 19-day-old fetuses in sham and patient groups had a significant reduction compared to control and lycopene groups. And the experimental group treated by lycopene had a significant increase at level of 5% in the number of receptors compared to patient group. Conclusion: results show that the number of dopamine and GABA receptors in substantia nigra areas and brain cortex on 15th and 19th day of embryonic period is affected by Parkinson’s disease induced by mothers. By increasing the number of days, the number of receptors increased. However the number was less than the control group, and the number of receptors increased in groups receiving lycopene, due to its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.