Effects of compound rehmannia formula on dopamine transporter content in the corpus striatum of Parkinson's disease rats treated with levodopa

Long-term application of levodopa (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine,L-DOPA) for Parkinson's disease can lead to adverse effects and reduce the amount of dopamine transporter (DAT) in the corpus striatum.The present study attempted to verify whether increasing the amount of DAT can reduce the adverse effects of L-DOPA.The specific radioactive uptake value of DAT in the corpus striatum of the lesioned hemisphere was significantly decreased,but was significantly increased following administration of compound rehmannia formula [Radix rehmanniae preparata (prepared rehmannia root),Concha margaritifera usta (nacre),Radix paeoniae alba (white peony alba),Radix salviae miltiorrhizae (Danshen root),Scorpio (scorpion),green tea] for 4 weeks.The changes in DAT 125I-beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-(4-iodophenyl) tropane autoradiography were consistent with those in radioactivity.The results revealed that the compound rehmannia formula can reduce the adverse effects of L-DOPA in treating Parkinson's disease,possibly by increasing the amount of DAT.

Long-term application of levodopa （L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, L-DOPA） for Parkinson＇s disease can lead to adverse effects and reduce the amount of dopamine transporter （DAT） in the corpus striatum. The present study attempted to vedfy whether increasing the amount of DAT can reduce the adverse effects of L-DOPA. The specific radioactive uptake value of DAT in the corpus striatum of the lesioned hemisphere was significantly decreased, but was significantly increased following administration of compound rehmannia formula [Radix rehmanniae preparata （prepared rehmannia root）, Concha margantifera usta （nacre）, Radix paeoniae alba （white peony alba）, Radix salviae miltiotThizae （Danshen root）, Scorpio （scorpion）, green tea] for 4 weeks. The changes in DAT 1251-beta-carbomethoxy-3 beta-（4-iodophenyl） tropane autoradiography were consistent with those in radioactivity. The results revealed that the compound rehmannia formula can reduce the adverse effects of L-DOPA in treating Parkinson＇s disease, possibly by increasing the amount of DAT.