Effect of Ethylmethylhydroxypyridine Succinate on the Expression of PGC-1α, GR, SUCNR1, and SDHA Genes in the Cerebral Cortex of Old Rats during a Course of Dexamethasone Administration.

We assessed the transcriptional activity of the genes PGC-1α, GR, SUCNR1, and SDHA in the cerebral cortex of old (age 18 months) male rats receiving course administration of dexamethasone alone and in combination with ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate. According to real-time PCR data, the course intraperitoneal administration of the glucocorticoid receptor (GRα) agonist dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, daily for 10 days) reduced the expression of the PGC-1α, GR, SUCNR1, and SDHA genes in rat cerebral cortex. Intraperitoneal administration of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (100 mg/kg, daily for 10 days) after each dexamethasone injection normalized the expression of PGC-1α and SUCNR1 genes and significantly activated the expression of GR and SDHA. Thus, succinate/SUCNR1-mediated activation of the PGC-1α, GR, SUCNR1, and SDHA genes was detected for the first time, in the cerebral cortex of old rats during chronic stimulation of GRα with supraphysiological doses of dexamethasone.