OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of baicalin on mouse with Parkinson's disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).

METHODSThe mouse model of Parkinson's disease was established by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP at the daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 3 days to the aged (ten months old) C57BL mouse. And to the model mice in the tested group, baicalin (100 mg/kg) was given via gastric perfusion per day for 15 days. The motor function of limbs in mice was tested through hanging and swimming tests; the dopamine content of striatum was measured by HPLC; and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the brain tissue were measured by spectrophotography. Besides, the freezing section of mouse brain was made through immunohistochemical stain with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to determine the condition of dopaminergic neuron damage in mesencephalon.

RESULTS(1) The decreased score in the hanging test and swimming test, the reduced DA contents of striatum and lessening of TH positive neurons in substantial nigra illustrated the model of Parkinson's disease was successfully established. (2) Medication of baicalin could prevent the loss of TH positive neurons in substantial nigra and the decrease of dopamine content of striatum in Parkinson mouse, and significantly raise the content of GSH in the brain, but MPTP induced motor dysfunction in model mouse was not significantly improved by a short-time medication.

CONCLUSIONThe preventive medication of baicalin shows a protective effect on C57 BL mouse with Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP.