Neuroprotective effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson's disease in rats

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting predominantly the dopaminergic mesotelencephalic system. Enormous progress has been made in the treatment of PD. Our previous study has shown that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) could attenuate the neurotoxicity induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in mice. In the present work, we examined whether HSYA had the neuroprotective effect on dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra in a rat model of PD. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were unilaterally injected with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the medial forebrain bundle. The PD rats were treated with HSYA (2 or 8mg/kg) via caudal vein injection daily for 4 weeks. Rotational tests showed that HSYA significantly attenuated apomorphine-induced turns in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. HSYA treatment resulted in a significant protection against the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells. Our data showed that HSYA also increased the levels of dopamine and its metabolites, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in striatum of PD rats. In conclusion, these results supported a role for HSYA in preserving dopamine neuron integrity and motor function in a rodent model of PD, and implied a potential neuroprotective role for HSYA in this disease.