Bee venom reduces neuroinflammation in the MPTP-induced model of Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom (BV) in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
MPTP was administered by intraperitoneal (IP) injection at 2-hr intervals over an 8-hr period. Mice were then subjected to BV subcutaneous injection and sacrificed on days 1 and 3 following the final MPTP injection. The loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) was assessed by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry. Microglial activation was measured by immunohistochemistry for macrophage antigen complex-1 (MAC-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The staining intensities of MAC-1 and iNOS were quantified with respect to optical density.


RESULTS
In animals treated with MPTP, the survival percentages of TH+ cells in the SNpc were 32% on day 1 and 46% on day 3 compared with normal mice. In BV-treated mice, the survival percentages of TH+ cells improved to 70% on day 1 and 78% on day 3 compared with normal mice. BV treatment also resulted in reduced expression of the inflammation markers MAC-1 and iNOS in the SNpc.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that BV injection may have a neuroprotective effect that attenuates the activation of the microglial response, which has implications for the treatment of PD.
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jong-In
JI
Kim
Eun Jin
EJ
Yang
Myeong Soo
MS
Lee
Yong-Suk
YS
Kim
Youngbuhm
Y
Huh
Ik-Hyun
IH
Cho
Sungkeel
S
Kang
Hyung-Kyun
HK
Koh
D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001514:Bee Venoms; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase