[The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 on dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease mice induced by MPTP].

AIM AND METHODS: Using Strain C57/BL of COX-2 deficient mice, the effect of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) on dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra of Parkinson's disease (PD) mice induced by intraperitoneal injections of MPTP-HCl were investigated by immunocytochemistry(ICC) . RESULTS: We found that the mortality in COX-2 heterozygous mice is much lower than that in wild type mice (P < 0.01) after injection of MPTP (30 mg/kg/day). The result of semiquantitative immunocytochemical staining showed that the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) declined more significantly in MPTP-treated wild type mice than that in COX-2 heterozygotes mice (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: COX-2 may be related with lesion of dopaminergic neurons in the SNc of PD.