| Parkinson disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases worldwide that mainly affects those of middle to old age. Dopaminergic neuronal death in substantia nigra is found to be the main pathologic process,and result in a decrease of dopamine (DA) in the substantia nigra to striatum path ,which associated with a series of motor functional impairment .Now the exact cause of PD is still unknown, Levodopa was the first and is still a highly effective drug for symptomatic treatment of PD in clinic. However, long-term levodopa treatment is associated with numerous adverse motor effects that limit its use including the"on-off"phenomena, wearing off, dose failure, akinesia and dyskinesia. Some experts believe that levodopa is in fact neurotoxin, and that it promotes further neuronal degeneration ,certain limitations including development of motor and neuropsychiatric complications in the majority of patients. Recent years it is manifested that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be used to treat PD by preserve cellular nervosa, restrain oxidative stress reaction, et al. This study aimed to observe the effects of Pingchan Potion on the behavioral exhibition and the dopaminergic neuron in PD model rats and explore the pharmacodynamics of Pingchan Potion.PD model rats were established by microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine solution into right ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNC) of the mesencephslon. After 1 week the behavioral testing was be used to assess PD rat model by injection of APO in abdominal cavity. The 60 PD rats were divided randomly into six groups: model group, madopar group, Pingchan Potion (16, 8, 4g/kg) group and combined group. In addition, ten rats were included in the normal control group .All rats were continually treated for 5 weeks. The rotational behavior of rats by APO-inducing was observed and the latent period were tested by Rotarod test before and after treatment .After 5 weeks, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells were detected by immunohistochemical method , and DA and its metabolic products in nigrostriatal system of each group were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) . We found that compared with model group ,the times of rats rotation were decreased respectively after 3-week treatment in the madopar group and combined group (P<0.05); the times of rats rotation didn't decrease in Pingchan Potion 16g/kg and 8g/kg group, but it did not change obviously in 4g/kg group (P>0.05); the times of rats rotation of post-treatment for model group increased more than that of pre-treatment (P<0.05),and the behavior of normal group didn't change. Compared with model group, latent period of rats on the rotating rod significantly increased in the madopar group, combined group, Pingchan Potion (16, 8, /kg) group; but it didn't obviously improve in 4g/kg Pingchan Potion (P>0.05).The number of TH positive cells in substantial nigra of rats treated with Pingchan Potion 16g /kg and 8g /kg was higher than that of model group (P<0.05), yet lower than that of normal group. The level of DA and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)in the rats treated with Pingchan Potion (16, 8g/kg )and madopar and combined group was higher than that of the model group(P<0.05), but lower than that of normal group, the level of DA and DOPAC in Pingchan Potion 4g/kg group did not significantly change. The result suggests that Pingchan Potion could partially improve the rotational behavior in PD model rats , and provide a protective effect against 6-OHDA–induced neuronal death in parkinsonian model. |
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