Salidroside promotes the expression of GDNF in the MPTP model of Paridnson's disease

Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effects of salidroside on dopaminergic neurons of Parkinsonian mouse model induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Methods The C57BL mice were divided into 4 groups; MPTP group, MPTP + salidroside group, saline control group and salidroside control group. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells in the substantia nigra was measured by immunohistochemistry. The expression of TH, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (CDNF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (CFAP) was detected by Western blot Results The number of TH positive cells in substantia nigra was significantly reduced in MPTP group than that in MPTP + salidroside and saline control groups ( P 0. 05). The expression of TH proteins was obviously increased in MPTP + salidroside group at different doses of salidroside ( relative grey scale being 0.8326±0.0930, 0.9007±0.0104 and 1.1114±0.2013 respectively) than that in MPTP group (0. 5738±0. 0114, P 0. 05 ) . The expression of GDNF proteins was markedly increased in MPTP + salidroside group ( 1. 3503±0. 0573 ) than that in MPTP group (0. 1485±0.0118, P 0. 05 ) . No statistically significant difference of GFAP proteins was noted between the MPTP group and MPTP + salidroside group (P 0. 05), but the expression of GFAP proteins was remarkably elevated in MPTP + salidroside group than that in saline control group (1. 369S±0. 1174.P 0. 05). Conclusions Salidroside could partially block the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the parkinsonian mouse model induced by MPTP. The mechanism of neuroprotective effect may be related to the elevated secretion of endogenous GDNF.