Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effect of lipoic acid on nerve cell apoptosis in rats with Parkinson's disease via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway.Methods: A total of 36 rats were randomly divided into normal group (n = 12), Parkinson's disease model group (n = 12) and lipoic acid group (n = 12). The neuronal morphology was examined by means of Nissl staining, while cell apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.Results: The neurons were severely damaged in model group, while neuronal morphology and structure were ameliorated in lipoic acid group when compared with those in model group. The p-ERK was lowered significantly (p < 0.05) in model group and lipoic acid group compared with that in normal group. Levels of mRNA, caspase-3 and Bax increased significantly, while Bcl-2 decreased in model group and lipoic acid group when compared with those in normal group (p < 0.05). Lipoic acid treatment significantly reduced mRNA expression of caspase-3 and Bax, but increased Bcl-2 compared with model group. Furthermore, ELISA results indicate that model and lipoic acid groups exhibited raised caspase-3 and Bax but significantly reduced Bcl-2 levels, compared with normal group. The results also showed that the apoptosis was higher in the other two groups than in normal group; on the other hand, it was significantly lower in lipoic acid group than in model group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Lipoic acid inhibits nerve cell apoptosis in rats with Parkinson's disease by up-regulating ERK signaling pathway. Therefore, lipoic acid is a potential neuroprotective agent for the management of Parkinson’s disease.
Highlights
Parkinson's disease, a fairly common neurological disease in clinics at present, frequently occurs in the elderly people
There has been no satisfactory therapeutic method for Parkinson's disease so far, and Existing studies [5,6,7] have demonstrated that the destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system is the main pathological mechanism of Parkinson's disease, which is closely associated with muscle stiffness, tremor and autonomic dysfunction in patients
This research aims to explore the effect of lipoic acid on the nerve cell apoptosis in rats with Parkinson's disease through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway
Summary
Parkinson's disease, a fairly common neurological disease in clinics at present, frequently occurs in the elderly people. It is characterized by muscle stiffness and uncontrollable tremor, which mainly impair the autonomic motor function and results in limb motor dysfunction in patients [1,2]. There has been no satisfactory therapeutic method for Parkinson's disease so far, and Existing studies [5,6,7] have demonstrated that the destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system is the main pathological mechanism of Parkinson's disease, which is closely associated with muscle stiffness, tremor and autonomic dysfunction in patients. As a result, intervening in excess nerve cell apoptosis during Parkinson's disease is an effective idea and method of researching and treating Parkinson's disease
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