This article is mentioned in:

Introduction

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality (1). The primary therapeutic strategy for PD is the administration of therapeutic agents, such as levodopa (1). However, higher doses and long-term use of levodopa are associated with adverse effects, such as motor fluctuations and dyskinesia (1). Early treatment of PD with other agents, such as dopamine agonists and monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors, provides symptomatic benefits and delays the initiation of levodopa therapy (1). The development of novel therapeutic agents for PD that have improved therapeutic efficacy and fewer side effects than current anti-PD medications is, therefore, being actively investigated.

Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid (SSTFs) has been identified as neuro-protective on central nervous system (2). However, the underlying mechanisms of the neuroprotective effect of SSTF has not been well-delineated. The present study was designed to assess the effects and mechanisms of SSTF to dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compact (SNC) of a mouse model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD (3).

Materials and methods

Animal model

The C57BL/6J male mice (age, 8–10 weeks; weight, 20–25 g) were purchased from the experimental animal center of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences (Beijing, China). They were maintained under a 12-h dark/light cycle under standard laboratory conditions with free access to food and water. The study was approved by the animal ethics committee of Liaocheng People's Hospital (Liaocheng, China).

Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into four groups of eight per group: Control group, received no treatment; MPTP group, treated with one dose of intravenous MPTP (25 mg/kg), followed by daily intravenous injection of normal saline for 5 days; SSTF + MPTP group, daily intravenous injection of SSTF (5 mg/kg) for 5 days followed by one dose of MPTP treatment at 25 mg/kg; MPTP + SSTF group, treated with one dose of MPTP (25 mg/kg), followed by daily SSTF (5 mg/kg) for 5 days.

Open-field test evaluation

The open-field test was used to monitor the behaviors of mice for 3–5 min after MPTP injection. Mice were suspended on a string (diameter, 3 mm) 30 cm above the ground. The ability of the mice to grab the cotton with their forepaws was observed, and the hanging time was recorded with a scoring system as follows: 0–4 sec, 0; 5–9 sec, 1; 10–14 sec, 2; 15–19 sec, 3; 20–24 sec, 4; 25–29 sec, 5; >30 sec, 6.

Histopathological analysis

The mice were euthanized by overdose with chloral hydrate (ShangHai YuanYe Bio-tech Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China) and the midbrain was collected on day nine of the treatment. The brain tissue samples were processed with 4% polysorbate-phosphate buffered saline fluid and stored at 4°C for 24 h. The midbrain tissue samples were sliced into 6-µm sections.

Toluidine blue staining was performed with 1% toluidine blue solution, with incubation at 50–60°C for 20–40 min. The brain tissue samples were washed with distilled water 2–3 times and processed with 95% alcohol for differentiation. Ethanol was used to dehydrate the tissue samples through a gradient and dimethylbenzene (ShangHai YuanYe Bio-tech Co., Ltd.) was used for vitrification. The tissue samples were sealed with neutral gum. The number and morphology of dopaminergic neurons were observed under a high power microscope; dopamine-positive cells were defined as those with blue staining. The number of dopaminergic cells were counted from four visual fields under a high power microscope. For each field, the counts were performed three times and the mean value of the three counts was used.

Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) measurement

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; ShangHai YuanYe Bio-tech Co., Ltd.) was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions, to measure the serum levels of MDA. Venous blood (5 ml) was collected from the tail of the mice and centrifuged at 100 × g for 10 min. The level of MDA was determined at a wavelength of 450 nm by spectrophotography.

Statistical analysis

All data were presented as the mean ± standard deviation. SPSS 13.0 statistical software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used to perform statistical analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare differences between groups and P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Behavior changes

After injecting MPTP, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, piloerection, hunched postures, and shortened steps were observed. These symptoms gradually eased 15–30 min after the injection. All animals became hypothermic 1 h after the MPTP injection and, as shown in Table I, the PD symptoms in the MPTP group endured for longer than the MPTP + SSTF (P<0.05) and SSTF + MPTP (P<0.05) groups. No statistically significant difference was identified in the behavioral measures between the MPTP + SSTF and SSTF + MPTP groups (P>0.05). The behavior scores in the MPTP + SSTF and SSTF + MPTP group were lower than in the MPTP group (P<0.05). In addition, the mean hanging scores in the MPTP + SSTF and SSTF + MPTP groups were higher than those of the MPTP group (P<0.05; Table II).

Table I. Behavior scores.

Table I.

Behavior scores.

Group	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9
Control	0.00±0.00	0.00±0.00	0.00±0.00	0.00±0.00	0.00±0.00	0.00±0.00
MPTP	1.88±0.35a	2.13±0.35a	2.25±0.46	2.34±0.52a	2.50±0.53a	2.63±0.52a
MPTP + SSTF	1.13±0.35a,b	1.38±0.52a,b	1.50±0.53a,b	1.50±0.53a,b	1.63±0.52a,b	1.50±0.76a,b
SSTF + MPTP	1.00±0.00a,b	1.25±0.46a,b	1.38±0.52a,b	1.38±0.52a,b	1.50±0.53a,b	1.38±0.74a,b

a P<0.05 vs. control group

b P<0.05 vs. MPTP group. MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; SSTF, Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid. Values are presented as means ± standard deviations.

Table II. Hanging test scores.

Table II.

Hanging test scores.

Group	Day 4	Day 5	Day 6	Day 7	Day 8	Day 9
Control	6.00±0.00	6.00±0.00	6.00±0.00	6.00±0.00	6.00±0.00	6.00±0.00
MPTP	1.88±0.35a	1.75±0.46a	1.63±0.52	1.63±0.52a	1.38±0.52a	1.25±0.46a
MPTP + SSTF	4.25±0.71a,b	4.13±0.64a,b	4.00±0.53a,b	3.88±0.35a,b	4.00±0.00a,b	3.63±0.74a,b
SSTF + MPTP	4.38±0.74a–c	4.13±0.64a–c	4.13±0.64a–c	4.00±0.53a–c	4.13±0.35a–c	3.75±0.71a–c

a P<0.05 vs. control group

b P<0.05 vs. MPTP group

c P>0.05 vs. control group and MPTP + SSTF group. MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; SSTF, Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid. Values are presented as means ± standard deviations.

Serum MDA concentration

The mean serum MDA concentrations in the MPTP + SSTF and SSTF + MPTP groups were similar to the control group (P>0.05), which were significantly lower than in the MPTP group (P<0.05; Table III).

Table III. Serum MDA concentration in the four groups.

Table III.

Serum MDA concentration in the four groups.

Group	MDA, µmol/l
Control	3.76±0.17
MPTP	5.76±0.18a
MPTP + SSTF	3.43±0.16a,b
SSTF + MPTP	3.40±0.15a,b

a P<0.05 vs. control group

b P<0.05 vs. MPTP group. MDA, malondialdehyde; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; SSTF, Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid. Values are presented as means ± standard deviations.

Positive cells in the SNC

In the control group, the number of dopaminergic neurons (Table IV) was significantly greater than in the MPTP group (P=0.013). The neurons were medium sized and cone-shaped. The color of the cytoplasm was very light and the nucleolus was small, but clearly visible. Of the treatment groups, the SSTF + MPTP group exhibited the largest number of dopaminergic neurons. These neurons were medium-sized, cone-shaped and arranged in ribbons. The neurons demonstrated complete morphology, in which the cytoplasm was hyperchromatic and the nucleolus was clear. Nissl bodies were distributed evenly in the cytoplasm. In the MPTP group, the number of dopaminergic neurons was markedly decreased compared with the control group. The neurons were clearly atrophied, the nucleoli were smaller in size and Nissl's bodies were unevenly distributed. When compared with the control group, the MPTP + SSTF demonstrated no significant differences in the number and morphology of dopaminergic neurons (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra compact (3,3′-diaminobenzidine; magnification, ×200). (A) Control group: The number of dopaminergic neurons is greater than in the MPTP group. Morphologically, the neurons are medium in size and cone-shaped, and the cytoplasm is colorless. The nucleolus is small, but clearly visible. (B) SSTF + MPTP group: The number of dopaminergic neurons is the largest (not including the control group). These neurons are medium-sized, cone-shaped, and arranged in ribbons. The neurons demonstrated complete morphology, in which the cytoplasm was hyperchromatic and the nucleolus was clear. Nissl bodies are distributed evenly in the cytoplasm. (C) MPTP group: The number of dopaminergic neurons is clearly markedly compared with the control group. The neurons are clearly atrophied and the nucleoli are smaller. The Nissl bodies are unevenly distributed. (D) MPTP + SSTF group: Compared with the SSTF + MPTP group, the number and morphology of dopaminergic neurons demonstrated no significant difference. MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; SSTF, Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid.

Table IV. Number of dopaminergic neurons in the four groups.

Table IV.

Number of dopaminergic neurons in the four groups.

Groups	Dopaminergic cells
Control	95.63±3.78
MPTP	43.75±2.49a
MPTP + SSTF	65.63±4.00a,b
SSTF + MPTP	67.88±4.36a,b

a P<0.05 vs. control group

b P<0.05 vs. MPTP group. MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; SSTF, Scutellaria baicalensis stem-leaf total flavonoid. Values are presented as means ± standard deviations.

Discussion

Scutellaria baicalensis is a medicinal plant widely distributed in Asia. Its dry root, Radix Scutellariae, has been demonstrated to exert free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities, which can be used to treat various types of chronic illness, such as inflammation, allergies, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and fever (4–6), Baicalein, a flavonoid obtained from Radix Scutellariae provides neuroprotective effects for 6-hydroxydopamine-induced animal models of PD (7,8). Baicalein has also been shown to protect against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells and isolated rat brain mitochondria (9), and to attenuate inflammation-mediated degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (10). Furthermore, in mice models, Baicalein protects against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity (11–13).

In the present study, the effect of SSTF, an extract from the stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis, on MPTP-induced neurological damage in mice was investigated. Treatment with SSTF was associated with reduced behavioral abnormalities and higher hanging scores than the mice in the MPTP only group. The mean number of dopaminergic neurons in the SNC tissue samples of the SSTF groups was higher than in the MPTP only group. These results suggest that 5 days of SSTF treatment is associated with neuroprotective effects against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity.

Various studies indicate that free radical-mediated oxidative damage is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease (1,4). MDA is the product of lipid peroxidation breakdown and its assessment is considered to be a reliable marker of oxidative damage. Patients with PD present with an increased serum level of MDA (14). In the present study, the serum level of MDA was elevated in those mice that were treated with MPTP; however, in mice treated with SSTF, the MDA serum levels were lower than in those without SSTF treatment. These results indicate that SSTF improves the anti-oxidation index and reduces the oxygen free radical damage to the cytomembrane. This action on MDA may have contributed to the neuroprotective effects and behavioral improvement of the mice in the present study.

In conclusion, SSTF appeared to improve behaviors and reduce damage to the dopaminergic neurons of the SNC in a mice model of PD. These beneficial effects may be associated with the inhibition of oxidation, alleviating the damage of oxygen free radicals to dopaminergic neurons. Thus, SSTF, as a plant-estrogen, may be administered to treat PD in future.

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation China (grant no. 30170334).

References