title: Anti-apoptotic effect ofShudipingchangranule in the substantia nigra of rat models of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Levodopa is the gold-standard treatment for Parkinson's disease. However, although it alleviates the clinical symptoms, it cannot delay the progressive apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons or prevent motor complications in the long term. In the present study, we investigated the effect ofShudipingchangranule on neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area. We then administered levodopa (20 mg/kg intraperitoneally, twice daily) with or withoutShudipingchangranule (7.5 mL/kg intragastrically, twice daily), for 4 weeks. The long-term use of levodopa accelerated apoptosis of nigral cells and worsened behavioral symptoms by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway and downstream apoptotic factors. However, administration ofShudipingchangranule with levodopa reduced expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and Bax, increased tyrosine hydroxylase and Bcl-2, reduced apoptosis in the substantia nigra, and markedly improved dyskinesia. These findings suggest thatShudipingchangranule suppresses neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting the hyperphosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and downregulating expression of anti-apoptotic genes.Shudipingchangranule, used in combination with levodopa, can effectively reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Can-Xing
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6220-7590
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Manipulation, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xu-Ming
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2880-2609
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Parkinson's disease; Shudipingchan granule; apoptosis; behavior; extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway; levodopa; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; substantia nigra