title: Curcumin protects nigral dopaminergic neurons by iron-chelation in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcumin is a plant polyphenolic compound and a major component of spice turmeric (Curcuma longa). It has been reported to possess free radical-scavenging, iron-chelating, and anti-inflammatory properties in different tissues. Our previous study showed that curcumin protects MES23.5 dopaminergic cells from 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in vitro. The present study aimed to explore this neuroprotective effect in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of Parkinson's disease in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were given intragastric curcumin for 24 days. 6-OHDA lesioning was conducted on day 4 of curcumin treatment. Dopamine content was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-containing neurons by immunohistochemistry, and iron-containing cells by Perls' iron staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The dopamine content in the striatum and the number of TH-immunoreactive neurons decreased after 6-OHDA treatment. Curcumin pretreatment reversed these changes. Further studies demonstrated that 6-OHDA treatment increased the number of iron-staining cells, which was dramatically decreased by curcumin pretreatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protective effects of curcumin against 6-OHDA may be attributable to the iron-chelating activity of curcumin to suppress the iron-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Dis-orders and State Key Disciplines: Physiology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Xi-Xun
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Hua-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun-Xia
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016627:Oxidopamine; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016627:Oxidopamine; D007501:Iron; D003474:Curcumin