Neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of Chuanxiong Chatiao pulvis against MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in mice model of Parkinson's disease / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of Chunxiong Chatiao pulvis (CXCT) on the MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegneration in mice model of PD.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Three to five months old male mice were randomly divided into following six treatment groups (NS + NS, 50 mg x kg(-1) CXCT + NS, 25 mg x kg(-1) CXCT + MPTP, 50 mg x kg(-1) CXCT + MPTP, 75 mg x kg(-1) CXCT + MPTP, NS + MPTP) (n = 8/group). For behavioral measurement, the mice were evaluated for their motor coordination by pole-test; Striatal dopamine content of mice was measured using standard reverse-phase HPLC; Number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells in the substantia nigra of mice was detected by immunohistochemistry; SOD activity in the substantia nigra of mice were measured by fluorimetry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The score of pole test (25, 50, 75 mg x kg(-1)), the striatal dopamine contents (75 mg x kg-1), the residual DA contents (75 mg x kg(-1)) and the SOD activity in substantia nigra (50, 75 mg x kg(-1)) all showed that, the CXCT-pretreated groups significantly higher than that of the group NS + MPTP (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chuanxiong Chatiao pulvis improved the motor deficit in MPTP-induced mice, and attenuate MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice. Importantly, the neuroprotective effect of Chuanxiong Chatiao pulvis against dopaminergic neurodegeneration may be associated with its strong antioxidant capacity in vivo.</p>