Neuroprotective effects of insulin-like growth factor-2 in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cellular and mouse models of Parkinson’s disease

Skin-derived precursor Schwann cells have been reported to play a protective role in the central nervous system. The neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells may be attributable to the release of growth factors that nourish host cells. In this study, we first established a cellular model of Parkinson’s disease using 6-hydroxydopamine. When SH-SY5 Y cells were pretreated with conditioned medium from skin-derived precursor Schwann cells, their activity was greatly increased. The addition of insulin-like growth factor-2 neutralizing antibody markedly attenuated the neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells. We also found that insulin-like growth factor-2 levels in the peripheral blood were greatly increased in patients with Parkinson’s disease and in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Next, we pretreated cell models of Parkinson’s disease with insulin-like growth factor-2 and administered insulin-like growth factor-2 intranasally to a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and found that the level of tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker of dopamine neurons, was markedly restored, α-synuclein aggregation decreased, and insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor downregulation was alleviated. Finally, in vitro experiments showed that insulin-like growth factor-2 activated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3 K)/AKT pathway. These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells on the central nervous system were achieved through insulinlike growth factor-2, and that insulin-like growth factor-2 may play a neuroprotective role through the insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor/PI3 K/AKT pathway. Therefore, insulin-like growth factor-2 may be an useful target for Parkinson’s disease treatment.

Cell viability and dopamine secretion of 6-hydroxydopamine-treated PC12 cells co-cultured with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

In the present study, PC12 cells induced by 6-hydroxydopamine as a model of Parkinson＇s Disease, were used to investigate the protective effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity and to verify whether the mechanism of action relates to abnormal a-synuclein accumulation in cells Results showed that co-culture with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells enhanced PC12 cell viability and dopamine secretion in a cell dose-dependent manner. MitoLight staining was used to confirm that PC12 cells co-cultured with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells demonstrate reduced levels of cell apoptosis. Immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis found the quantity of α-synuclein accumulation was significantly reduced in PC12 cell and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell co-cultures. These results indicate that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells can attenuate 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cytotoxicity by reducing abnormal α-synuclein accumulation in PC12 cells.

Ghrelin alleviates 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells

Ghrelin is a neuropeptide that has various physiological functions and has been demonstrated to be neuroprotective in a number of neurological disease models.However,the underlying mechanisms of ghrelin in Parkinson’s disease remain largely unexplored.The current study aimed to study the effects of ghrelin in a 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)-induced Parkinson’s disease model and evaluate the potential underlying mechanisms.In the present study,we treated an SH-SY5 Y cell model with 6-OHDA,and observed that pretreatment with different concentrations of ghrelin(1,10,and 100 nM)for 30 minutes relieved the neurotoxic effects of 6-OHDA,as revealed by Cell Counting Kit-8 and Annexin V/propidium iodide(PI)apoptosis assays.Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay results demonstrated that 6-OHDA treatment upregulatedα-synuclein and lincRNA-p21 and downregulated TG-interacting factor 1(TGIF1),which was predicted as a potential transcription regulator of the gene encodingα-synuclein(SNCA).Ghrelin pretreatment was able to reverse the trends caused by 6-OHDA.The Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay results revealed that inhibiting eitherα-synuclein or lincRNA-p21 expression with small interfering RNA(siRNA)relieved 6-OHDA-induced cell apoptosis.Furthermore,inhibiting lincRNA-p21 also partially upregulated TGIF1.By retrieving information from a bioinformatics database and performing both double luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation assays,we found that lincRNA-p21 and TGIF1 were able to form a double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 1(STAU1)binding site and further activate the STAU1-mediated mRNA decay pathway.In addition,TGIF1 was able to transcriptionally regulateα-synuclein expression by binding to the promoter of SNCA.The Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay results showed that either knockdown of TGIF1 or overexpression of lincRNA-p21 notably abolished the neuroprotective effects of ghrelin against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity.Collectively,these findings suggest that ghrelin exerts neuroprotective effects against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity via the lincRNA-p21/TGIF1/α-synuclein pathway.

Differences in brain pathological changes between rotenone and 6-hydroxydopamine Parkinson＇s disease models

Rotenone and 6-hydroxydopamine are two drugs commonly used to generate Parkinson＇s disease animal models.They not only achieve degenerative changes of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra,but also satisfy the requirements for iron deposition.However,few studies have compared the characteristics of these two models by magnetic resonance imaging.In this study,rat models of Parkinson＇s disease were generated by injection of 3 μg rotenone or 10 μg 6-hydroxydopamine into the right substantia nigra.At 1,2,4,and 6 weeks after injection,coronal whole-brain T2-weighted imaging,transverse whole-brain T2-weighted imaging,and coronal diffusion tensor weighted imaging were conducted to measure fractional anisotropy and T2＊ values at the injury site.The fractional anisotropy value on the right side of the substantia nigra was remarkably lower at 6 weeks than at other time points in the rotenone group.In the 6-hydroxydopamine group,the fractional anisotropy value was decreased,but T2＊ values were increased on the right side of the substantia nigra at 1 week.Our findings confirm that the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced model is suitable for studying dopaminergic neurons over short periods,while the rotenone-induced model may be appropriate for studying the pathological and physiological processes of Parkinson＇s disease over long periods.

Dimethyl sulfide,a metabolite of the marine microorganism,protects SH-SY5Y cells against 6-hydroxydopamine and MPP~＋-induced apoptosis

Dimethyl sulfide(DMS)has been historically recognized as a metabolite of the marine microorganism or a disgusting component for the smell of halitosis patients.In our recent study,DMS has been identified as a cytoprotectant that protects against oxidative-stress induced cell death and aging.We found that at near-physiological concentrations,DMS reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)in cultured PC12 cells and alleviated oxidative stress.The radical-scavenging capacity of DMS at near-physiological concentration was equivalent to endogenous methionine(Met)-centered antioxidant defense.Methionine sulfoxidereductase A(MsrA),the key antioxidant enzyme in Met-centered defense,bound to DMS and promoted its antioxidant capacity via facilitating the reaction of DMS with ROS through a sulfonium intermediate at residues Cys72,Tyr103,Glu115,followed by the release of dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO).MTT assay and trypan blue test indicated that supplement of DMS exhibited cytoprotection against 6-hydroxydopamine and MPP+induced cell apoptosis.Furthermore,Msr A knockdown abolished the cytoprotective effect of DMS at near-physiological concentrations.The present study reveals new insight into the potential therapeutic value of DMS in Parkinson disease.

Reduced glutathione alleviates the toxic effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on bone marrow stromal cells

We studied the effect of reduced glutathione on bone marrow stromal cells （BMSCs） treated with 6-hydroxydopamine （6-OHDA）, which shows a toxic effect on dopaminergic neurons. The proliferation of BMSCs treated with 6-OHDA decreased, while that of BMSCs treated with reduced glutathione increased. The proliferation of BMSCs treated with both 6-OHDA and reduced glutathione was significantly higher compared with that treated with 6-OHDA alone. These findings indicate that reduced glutathione alleviates the toxic effect of 6-OHDA on BMSCs.

Protective Effect of Immaturue Bitter Orange(Citrus aurantium L.)Flavonoids Extracts on PC12 Cell Injury Induced by 6-Hydroxydopamine

To study the neuro protective effect of flavonoids extracts from immature bitter orange(Citrus aurantium L.),the PC12 cells treated with 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)were used as the Parkinson’s disease(PD)model.To determine the optimal dose of 6-OHDA for constructing a PD model,PC12 cells were incubated with different concentrations of 6-OHDA for 24 h.After 24 h incubation,PC12 cells of drug groups were added 6-OHDA and different concentrations of flavonoids extracts were measured cell viability by CCK8 for selecting effective concentration of flavonoids extracts;the ROS level was determined using flow cytometry;the levels of MDA,CAT,SOD and GSH-Px were assayed by Colorimetric kit for oxidative stress investigation.Compared with the model group,PC12 cell viability was significantly enhanced(P<0.05),the levels of ROS and MDA were reduced significantly(P<0.05),and the activities of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px were significantly enhanced(P<0.05)in drug groups.In conclusion,immature bitter orange flavonoids extracts could protect PC12 cells against 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress.

Feasibility of establishing model of Parkinson disease by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine at different parts of the nigrostriatal pathway in the brain of rats

BACKGROUND： Previous researches found that animal models with Parkinson disease （PD） could be established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine （6-OHDA） into medial forebrain bundle （MFB）, substantia nigra compacta （SNC） and caudate-putamen complex （CPU） of the nigrostriatal pathway. OBJECTIVE ： To compare behavioral, biochemica 6-OHDA injections in the areas of MFB, SNC and DESIGN： Controlled observational study and histological properties of these rats undergoing the CPU respectively. SEI-IING： Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University MATERIALS： A total of 64 adult female SD rats weighing 180-230 g were provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Guangxi Medical University. 6-OHDA （Sigma Company, USA）; Brain solid positioner （Standard model 51600, Stoelting Co., IL, USA）; rotational monitoring of little animal （type QL-1, USA）; high liquid chromatography （HLC, Waters Company）. METHOOS： The experiment was carried out in the Medical Experimental Center of Guangxi Medical University from February to December 2005. ① According to digital table, 64 SD rats were divided into MFB group, SNC group, CPU group and control group with 16 in each group. On the basis of the brain atlas of Paxinos, rats in the first three groups were injected with 5 μL 6-OHDA into right MFB （0 mm of line of incisor tooth, A/P 4.4 mm, L/R 1.2 mm, ON -7.8 mm）, SNC （line of incisor tooth just equal to horizon, A/P -4.8 mm, L/R 1.6 mm, ON -7.8 mm） and CPU （0 mm of line of incisor tooth, A/P 1.2 mm, L/R 2.7 mm, ON -5.4 mm）, respectively. The rats in control group were injected with 5 μL ascorbic acid solution （2 g/L）. One week after operation, 0.1 g/L apomorphine （Apo, 0.05 mg/kg） was subcutaneously injected into neck and then rotational behavior induced by Apo was recorded once a week for 8 weeks. The PD models were considered successful only when rotational times more than or equal to 7 times per minute. Eight weeks after operation, micro-perfusion was used to obtain micro-perfusate in bilateral CPU and contents of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid （3,4-DOPAC） and homovanillic acid （HVA） were also measured. In addition, amount of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells （TH＊） in SNC was counted with immuno- histochemical staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： ① Successful rate of PD models; ② contents of dopamine and its metabolite in MFB, SNC and CPU groups and TH＊ amount. RESULTS： All 64 SD rats were involved in the final analysis. ③ Successful rate and rotational behavior： One week after operation, there were 6 successful models both in SNC and MFB groups; in the 2^nd week, there were 6 both in SNC and MFB groups and 1 in CPU group; in the 3^nd week, there were 1 in MFB group and 3 in CPU group; in the 4^nd week, there were 3 in CPU group. Otherwise, no successful case was found out in the next 3 weeks. Abnormal rotational behavior was not observed in control group. Four weeks after operation, successful rates were 81% （13/16） in MFB group, 75% （12/16） in SNC group and 44% （7/16） in CPU group.② Contents of 3, 4-DOPAC and HVA： Eight weeks after operation, contents in the SNC area of the injured side were lower than those on non-lesion side （P 〈 0.01）.③Changes of TH＋ amount： Eight weeks after operation, TH＋ amount in the SNC area of the lesion side was lower than that on non-lesion side （P 〈 0.01 ）. CONCLUSION： Injecting 6-OHDA into MFB, SNC and CPU can damage dopaminergic cells and establish successful PD models.

Single-neuron neurodegeneration as a degenerative model for Parkinson’s disease

The positive effect of levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease,although it is limited in time and has severe side effects,has encouraged the scientific community to look for new drugs that can stop the neurodegenerative process or even regenerate the neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons.Successful preclinical studies with coenzyme Q10,mitoquinone,isradipine,nilotinib,TCH346,neurturin,zonisamide,deferiprone,prasinezumab,and cinpanemab prompted clinical trials.However,these failed and after more than 50 years levodopa continues to be the key drug in the treatment of the disease,despite its severe side effects after 4–6 years of chronic treatment.The lack of translated successful results obtained in preclinical investigations based on the use of neurotoxins that do not exist in the human body as new drugs for Parkinson’s disease treatment is a big problem.In our opinion,the cause of these failures lies in the experimental animal models involving neurotoxins that do not exist in the human body,such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and 6-hydroxydopamine,that induce a very fast,massive and expansive neurodegenerative process,which contrasts with the extremely slow one of neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons.The exceedingly slow progress of the neurodegenerative process of the nigrostriatal neurons in idiopathic Parkinson’s patients is due to(i)a degenerative model in which the neurotoxic effect of an endogenous neurotoxin affects a single neuron,(ii)a neurotoxic event that is not expansive and(iii)the fact that the neurotoxin that triggers the neurodegenerative process is produced inside the neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons.The endogenous neurotoxin that fits this degenerative model involving one single neuron at a time is aminochrome,since it(i)is generated within neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons,(ii)does not cause an expansive neurotoxic effect and(iii)triggers all the mechanisms involved in the neurodegenerative process of the nigrostriatal neurons in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.In conclusion,based on the hypothesis that the neurodegenerative process of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease corresponds to a single-neuron neurodegeneration model,we must search for molecules that increase the expression of the neuroprotective enzymes DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase M2-2.It has been observed that the activation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor(erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 pathway is associated with the transcriptional activation of the DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase genes.

Additive neurorestorative effects of exercise and docosahexaenoic acid intake in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

There is a need to develop interventions to slow or reverse the degeneration of dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s disease after diagnosis.Given that preclinical and clinical studies suggest benefits of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids,such as docosahexaenoic acid,and exercise in Parkinson’s disease,we investigated whether both could synergistically interact to induce recovery of the dopaminergic pathway.First,mice received a unilateral stereotactic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine into the striatum to establish an animal model of nigrostriatal denervation.Four weeks after lesion,animals were fed a docosahexaenoic acid-enriched or a control diet for the next 8 weeks.During this period,the animals had access to a running wheel,which they could use or not.Docosahexaenoic acid treatment,voluntary exercise,or the combination of both had no effect on(i)distance traveled in the open field test,(ii)the percentage of contraversive rotations in the apomorphine-induction test or(iii)the number of tyrosine-hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta.However,the docosahexaenoic acid diet increased the number of tyrosine-hydroxylase-positive terminals and induced a rise in dopamine concentrations in the lesioned striatum.Compared to docosahexaenoic acid treatment or exercise alone,the combination of docosahexaenoic acid and exercise(i)improved forelimb balance in the stepping test,(ii)decreased the striatal DOPAC/dopamine ratio and(iii)led to increased dopamine transporter levels in the lesioned striatum.The present results suggest that the combination of exercise and docosahexaenoic acid may act synergistically in the striatum of mice with a unilateral lesion of the dopaminergic system and provide support for clinical trials combining nutrition and physical exercise in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

基于文献数据库的6-OHDA帕金森病大鼠模型特点分析及在中药研究中的应用

目的分析6-OHDA诱导的大鼠PD模型的品系选择、性别、造模要素、模型评价方法以及在抗PD中药研究中的应用情况,以期为6-OHDA模型在帕金森研究中的应用提供参考。方法查阅近20年来中国知网(CNKI)和PubMed中应用6-OHDA建立PD大鼠模型的相关文献,分析6-OHDA诱导的大鼠PD模型的品系选择、性别体重、造模要素、模型评价方法以及在抗PD中药研究中的应用情况。结果6-OHDA诱导的大鼠PD模型多选用雄性SD或Wistar大鼠,造模时注射部位多为单侧黑质、内侧前脑束或纹状体,多在造模4周后检测阿扑吗啡诱导旋转实验、脑组织形态学、分子生物学、生化指标以判断模型成功率及防治PD药物的有效性。结论本文通过对6-OHDA诱导的大鼠PD模型的品系选择、性别、体重、造模要素、模型评价方法以及在抗PD中药研究中的应用情况进行分析,为PD模型的造模和应用提供参考。

Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate Parkinson’s disease and neuronal damage through inhibition of microglia

Microglia-mediated inflammatory responses have been shown to play a crucial role in Parkinson’s disease. In addition, exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells have shown anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of a variety of diseases. However, whether they can protect neurons in Parkinson’s disease by inhibiting microglia-mediated inflammatory responses is not yet known. In this study, exosomes were isolated from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and injected into a 6-hydroxydopamine-induced rat model of Parkinson’s disease. We found that the exosomes injected through the tail vein and lateral ventricle were absorbed by dopaminergic neurons and microglia on the affected side of the brain, where they repaired nigral-striatal dopamine system damage and inhibited microglial activation. Furthermore, in an in vitro cell model, pretreating lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV2 cells with exosomes reduced interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 secretion, prevented the adoption of pyroptosis-associated morphology by BV2 cells, and increased the survival rate of SH-SY5Y cells. Potential targets for treatment with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes were further identified by high-throughput microRNA sequencing and protein spectrum sequencing. Our findings suggest that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and exosomes are a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease, and that their neuroprotective effects may be mediated by inhibition of excessive microglial proliferation.

Single-nuclei RNA sequencing uncovers heterogenous transcriptional signatures in Parkinson's disease associated with nuclear receptor-related factor 1 defect

Previous studies have found that deficiency in nuclear receptor-related factor 1(Nurr1),which participates in the development,differentiation,survival,and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons,is associated with Parkinson s disease,but the mechanism of action is perplexing.Here,we first asce rtained the repercussion of knocking down Nurr1 by pe rforming liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.We found that 231 genes were highly expressed in dopaminergic neurons with Nurr1 deficiency,14 of which were linked to the Parkinson’s disease pathway based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis.To better understand how Nurr1 deficiency autonomously invokes the decline of dopaminergic neurons and elicits Parkinson’s disease symptoms,we performed single-nuclei RNA sequencing in a Nurr1 LV-shRNA mouse model.The results revealed cellular heterogeneity in the substantia nigra and a number of activated genes,the preponderance of which encode components of the major histocompatibility Ⅱ complex.Cd74,H2-Ab1,H2-Aα,H2-Eb1,Lyz2,Mrc1,Slc6α3,Slc47α1,Ms4α4b,and Ptprc2 were the top 10 diffe rentially expressed genes.Immunofluorescence staining showed that,after Nurr1knockdown,the number of CD74-immunoreactive cells in mouse brain tissue was markedly increased.In addition,Cd74 expression was increased in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease induced by treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine.Ta ken togethe r,our res ults suggest that Nurr1 deficiency results in an increase in Cd74 expression,thereby leading to the destruction of dopaminergic neuro ns.These findings provide a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

The transient receptor potential melastatin 2:a new therapeutical target for Parkinson's disease?

The transient receptor potential melastatin 2 is a calcium-permeable cation channel member of the TRP family. Also known as an oxidative stress-activated channel, the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 gating mechanism is dependent on reactive oxygen species. In pathological conditions, transient receptor potential melastatin 2 is overactivated, leading to a Ca~(2+) influx that alters cell homeostasis and promotes cell death. The role of transient receptor potential melastatin 2 in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and ischemia, has already been described and reviewed. However, data on transient receptor potential melastatin 2 involvement in Parkinson's disease pathology has emerged only in recent years and the issue lacks review studies that focus specifically on this topic. The present review aims to elucidate the role of the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 channel in Parkinson's disease by reviewing, summarizing, and discussing the in vitro, in vivo, and human studies published until August 2022. Here we describe fourteen studies that evaluated the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 channel in Parkinson's disease. The Parkinson's disease model used, transient receptor potential melastatin 2 antagonist and genetic approaches, and the main outcomes reported were discussed. The studies described transient receptor potential melastatin 2 activation and enhanced expression in different Parkinson's disease models. They also evidenced protective and restorative effects when using transient receptor potential melastatin 2 antagonists, knockout, or silencing. This review provides a literature overview and suggests where there is a need for more research. As a perspective point, this review shows evidence that supports transient receptor potential melastatin 2 as a pharmacological target for Parkinson's disease in the future.

Characteristic response of striatal astrocytes to dopamine depletion

Astrocytes and astrocyte-related proteins play important roles in maintaining normal brain function,and also regulate pathological processes in brain diseases and injury.However,the role of astrocytes in the dopamine-depleted striatum remains unclear.A rat model of Parkinson’s disease was therefore established by injecting 10μL 6-hydroxydopamine(2.5μg/μL)into the right medial forebrain bundle.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),calcium-binding protein B(S100B),and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)in the striatum,and to investigate the co-expression of GFAP with S100B and STAT3.Western blot assay was used to measure the protein expression of GFAP,S100B,and STAT3 in the striatum.Results demonstrated that striatal GFAP-immunoreactive cells had an astrocytic appearance under normal conditions,but that dopamine depletion induced a reactive phenotype with obvious morphological changes.The normal striatum also contained S100B and STAT3 expression.S100B-immunoreactive cells were uniform in the striatum,with round bodies and sparse,thin processes.STAT3-immunoreactive cells presented round cell bodies with sparse processes,or were darkly stained with a large cell body.Dopamine deprivation induced by 6-hydroxydopamine significantly enhanced the immunohistochemical positive reaction of S100B and STAT3.Normal striatal astrocytes expressed both S100B and STAT3.Striatal dopamine deprivation increased the number of GFAP/S100B and GFAP/STAT3 double-labeled cells,and increased the protein levels of GFAP,S100B,and STAT3.The present results suggest that morphological changes in astrocytes and changes in expression levels of astrocyte-related proteins are involved in the pathological process of striatal dopamine depletion.The study was approved by Animal Care and Use Committee of Sun Yat-sen University,China(Zhongshan Medical Ethics 2014 No.23)on September 22,2014.

Curcumin protects nigral dopaminergic neurons by iron-chelation in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease

Objective Curcumin is a plant polyphenolic compound and a major component of spice turmeric （Curcuma longa）. It has been reported to possess free radical-scavenging, iron-chelating, and anti-inflammatory properties in dif- ferent tissues. Our previous study showed that curcumin protects MES23.5 dopaminergic cells from 6-hydroxydopamine （6-OHDA）-induced neurotoxicity in vitro. The present study aimed to explore this neuroprotective effect in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of Parkinson＇s disease in vivo. Methods Rats were given intragastric curcumin for 24 days. 6-OHDA lesioning was conducted on day 4 of curcumin treatment. Dopamine content was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, tyrosine hydroxylase （TH）-containing neurons by immunohistochemistry, and iron-containing cells by Perls＇ iron staining. Results The dopamine content in the striatum and the number of TH-immunoreactive neurons decreased after 6-OHDA treatment. Curcumin pretreatment reversed these changes. Further studies demonstrated that 6-OHDA treatment increased the number of iron-staining cells, which was dramatically decreased by curcumin pretreatment. Conclusion The protective effects of curcumin against 6-OHDA may be attributable to the ironchelating activity of curcumin to suppress the iron-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons.

Establishment of a Parkinson’s disease model in rats via striatal one-site double injection Feasibility observation

BACKGROUND： To date, many 6-hydroxydopamine （6-OHDA）-lesioned rat models have been established by injecting 6-OHDA into two or more sites in the substantia nigra pars compacta, striatum or median forebrain bundle. The success rate of models established by this method is satisfactory, but it can raise the death rate, and is elaborate and tedious to perform. OBJECTIVE： To observe the difference between injections of 6-OHDA into the striatum from one site and two sites, and to explore the feasibility of establishing Parkinson＇s disease rat models via striatal one-site double injection. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled animal experiment based on a modeling comparison was performed at the Pharmacology Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between August 2005 and April 2006. MATERIALS： A total of 46 male Wistar rats were purchased from Beijing Weitong Lihua Experimental Animal Technical Co., Ltd., China. 6-OHDA hydrogen bromide was sourced from Sigma Co., Ltd., USA. METHODS： All 46 rats were randomized to three groups： one-site injection （n = 18）, two-site injection （n = 18）, and control （n = 10）. Lesions in rat brains were established by infusing 5 μg 6-OHDA into the striatum at the following coordinates： anteroposterior （AP） 1.0 mm, mediolateral （ML） 2.7 mm, dorsoventral （DV）-5.2 or-6.0 mm for the one-site injection group, and AP 1.0 mm, ML 2.5 mm, DV -4.5 mm/AP-0.4 mm, ML 3.5 mm, DV-4.5 mm for the two-site injection group, respectively. Rats in the control group were injected with the same volume of 0.01% ascorbic acid as above. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons were detected by immunohistochemistry. Success rates of PD models established by one-site and two-site injection techniques were examined. RESULTS： One rat died in the one-site injection group and four in the two-site injection group. Thus behavioral testing was performed on 31 rats. There was no significant difference in the success rate of PD model establishment between one-site injection and two-site injection groups [82% （14/17） vs. 86% （12/14）, P 〉 0.05]. The numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase -positive neurons in one-site injection and two-site injection groups were not significantly different （ P 〉 0.05）, but they were significantly lower than in the control group（P 〈 0.01 ）. CONCLUSION： A Parkinson＇s disease model can be established in rats via striatal one-site double injection.

P2X4 receptor participates in autophagy regulation in Parkinson’s disease

Dysfunctional autophagy often occurs during the development of neurodegenerative diseases,such as Parkinson’s disease,Huntington’s disease,and Alzheimer’s disease.The purinergic P2X4 receptor is an ATP-gated ion channel that is widely expressed in the microglia,astrocytes,and neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems.P2X4R is involved in the regulation of cellular excitability,synaptic transmission,and neuroinflammation.However,the role played by P2X4R in Parkinson’s disease remains poorly understood.Rat models of Parkinson’s disease were established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra pars compacta.P2X4R-targeted small interfering RNA(siRNA)was injected into the same area 1 week before injury induction to inhibit the expression of the P2X4 receptor.The results showed that the inhibition of P2X4 receptor expression in Parkinson’s disease model rats reduced the rotation behavior induced by apomorphine treatment,increased the latency on the rotarod test,and upregulated the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase,brain-derived neurotrophic factor,LC3-II/LC3-I,Beclin-1,and phosphorylated tropomyosin receptor kinase B(TrkB)in brain tissue,while simultaneously reducing p62 levels.These findings suggest that P2X4 receptor activation might inhibit neuronal autophagy through the regulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/TrkB signaling pathway,leading to dopaminergic neuron damage in the substantia nigra and the further inhibition of P2X4 receptor-mediated autophagy.These results indicate that P2X4 receptor might serve as a potential novel target for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University(approval No.QYFYWZLL26119)on April 12,2016.

Neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of a therapy combining agonists of nicotinic α7 and σ1 receptors in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease

To date there is no treatment able to stop or slow down the loss of dopaminergic neurons that characterizes Parkinson’s disease.It was recently observed in a rodent model of Alzheimer’s disease that the interaction between the α7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7-nAChR)and sigma-1 receptor(σ1-R)could exert neuroprotective effects through the modulation of neuroinflammation which is one of the key components of the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease.In this context,the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the concomitant administration of N-(3R)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl-furo[2,3-c]pyridine-5-carboxamide(PHA)543613 as an α7-nAChR agonist and 2-(4-morpholinethyl)1-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylate(PRE)-084 as aσ1-R agonist in a well-characterized 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s disease.The animals received either vehicle separately or the dual therapy PHA/PRE once a day until day 14 postlesion.Although no effect was noticed in the amphetamine-induced rotation test,our data has shown that the PHA/PRE treatment induced partial protection of the dopaminergic neurons(15-20%),assessed by the dopamine transporter density in the striatum and immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra.Furthermore,this dual therapy reduced the degree of glial activation consecutive to the 6-hydroxydopamine lesion,i.e,the 18 kDa translocation protein density and glial fibrillary acidic protein staining in the striatum,and the CD11b and glial fibrillary acidic protein staining in the substantia nigra.Hence,this study reports for the first time that concomitant activation of α7-nAChR andσ1-R can provide a partial recovery of the nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons through the modulation of microglial activation.The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Committee(CEEA Val de Loire n°19)validated this protocol(Authorization N°00434.02)on May 15,2014.

Effects of Zhichan powder on signal transduction and apoptosis-associated gene expression in the substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease rats

Previous studies have shown that Zhichan powder elevated immunity and suppressed oxidation in mice. Rat models of Parkinson＇s disease were induced by stereotaxically injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra. The rat models were intragastrically treated with Zhichan powder, which is composed of milkvetch root, ginseng, bunge swallowwort root, himalayan teasel root. Magnolia officinalis, Ligustrum lucidum Ait. and szechwan Iovage rhizome. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR results demonstrated that mRNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, Fas, caspase-8, cvtochrome C, Bax, casDase-3, and p53 significantly increased, but Bcl-2 expression significantly decreased in the substantia nigra of rats with Parkinson＇s disease. Following Zhichan powder administration, mRNA and protein expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, Fas, caspase-8, cytochrome C, Bax, caspase-3, and p53 diminished, but Bcl-2 expression increased in the rat substantia nigra. These results indicate that Zhichan powder regulates signal transduction protein expression, inhibits apoptosis, and exerts therapeutic effects on Parkinson＇s disease.