Curcumin protects nigral dopaminergic neurons by iron-chelation in the 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease  

作　　者：Xi-Xun Du Hua-Min Xu Hong Jiang Ning Song Jun Wang Jun-Xia Xie 

机构地区：[1]Department of Physiology,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders and State Key Disciplines:Physiology,Medical College of Qingdao University,Qingdao 266071,China

出　　处：《Neuroscience Bulletin》2012年第3期253-258,共6页神经科学通报（英文版）

基　　金：supported by grants from the National Basic Research Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2011CB504102);the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30930036, 81100955)

摘　　要：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 dif- ferent 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. Conclusion The protective effects of curcumin against 6-OHDA may be attributable to the ironchelating activity of curcumin to suppress the iron-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons.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 dif- ferent 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. Conclusion The protective effects of curcumin against 6-OHDA may be attributable to the ironchelating activity of curcumin to suppress the iron-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons.

关 键 词：6-hydroxydopamine curcumin Parkinson＇s disease dopaminergic neurons iron 

分 类 号：Q813.11[生物学—生物工程] TQ463.24[化学工程—制药化工]