Abstract
As a classical prescription of Traditional Chinese medicine, the Jia-Jian-Di-Huang-Yin-Zi (JJDHYZ) decoction has long been used to treat movement disorders. The present study evaluated the effects of JJDHYZ on dopaminergic (DA) neurons and their survival-enhancing microenvironment as well as the possible mechanisms involved using a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. In MPTP-lesioned mice, a high dosage of JJDHYZ (34 g/kg/day) attenuated the loss of DA neurons, reversed the dopamine depletion, and improved the expression of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) compared to the untreated model group. JJDHYZ also protected the ultrastructure of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and tight junction proteins by inhibiting the activation of microglia and astrocytes besides the increase in three types of matrix metalloproteinases in the substantia nigra. In conclusion, the JJDHYZ-high dosage (JJDHYZ-H) group exhibited the neuroprotection of DA neurons, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the survival-enhancing microenvironment of the DA neurons.
Highlights
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, age-related movement disorder, which is widely known as the frequent neurological disorder of the basal ganglia
Investigators have focused on the neurovascular unit (NVU), which is primarily composed of neurons and non-neuronal cells, including endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia and vascular smooth muscle cells
The Jia-Jian-Di-Huang-Yin-Zi decoction (JJDHYZ), which derives from a classical prescription in treating motor and language disorder, was effective in our previous clinical trials wherein both the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and the Madopar dosage were reduced in PD patients[14]
Summary
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, age-related movement disorder, which is widely known as the frequent neurological disorder of the basal ganglia. To further clarify the neuroprotective role of JJDHYZ, we assessed the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and GDNF using immunofluorescence, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. No significant differences were observed in the numbers of BDNF-positive cells, BDNF gene or protein expression among the groups (Fig. 1).
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