Striatal TH-immunopositive fibers recover after an intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in golden hamsters treated with prednisolone: Roles of tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase in neurodegeneration

► Study of neuroinflammation and its role in a hamster model of Parkinson's disease. ► Combination of 6-OHDA with prednisolone, minocycline or minocycline + prednisolone. ► The three treatments attenuated microglia activation after a single 6-OHDA injection. ► Only in prednisolone group dopamine fibers in the ipsilateral striatum statistically recovered. ► The recovery correlated with lower mRNA levels of TNF-α and iNOS.