Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (1): 101-106.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.175053

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Verbascoside promotes the regeneration of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra

Jian-qing Liang, Li Wang, Jian-cheng He, Xian-dong Hua   

  1. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • Received:2015-10-22 Online:2016-01-15 Published:2016-01-15
  • Contact: Jian-cheng He, M.D., hejc8163@163.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by a grant from Science and Technology Support Traditional Chinese Drug Research and Development Project
    of Shanghai of China, No. 12401900302; Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Foundation of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau of China, No. 2012J009A; a grant from Annual Research Budget of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China in 2013, No. 2013JW25; the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30672684, 30973722.

PDF

1009

Abstract:

Tyrosine hydroxylase is a key enzyme in dopamine biosynthesis. Change in tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the nigrostriatal system is closely related to the occurrence and development of Parkinson’s disease. Verbascoside, an extract from Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata has been shown to be clinically effective in treating Parkinson’s disease. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. It is hypothesized that the effects of verbascoside on Parkinson’s disease are related to tyrosine hydroxylase expression change in the nigrostriatal system. Rat models of Parkinson’s disease were established and verbascoside (60 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally once a day. After 6 weeks of verbascoside treatment, rat rotational behavior was alleviated; tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA and protein expression and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the rat right substantia nigra were significantly higher than the Parkinson’s model group. These findings suggest that the mechanism by which verbascoside treats Parkinson’s disease is related to the regeneration of tyrosine hydroxylase-
immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra.

Key words: nerve regeneration, traditional Chinese medicine, Parkinson’s disease, rats, dyskinesia, tyrosine hydroxylase, neurological behavior, verbascoside, neural regeneration