Objective Curcumin is a plant polyphenolic compound and a major component of spice turmeric （Curcuma longa）. It has been reported to possess free radical-scavenging, iron-chelating, and anti-inflammatory properties in dif- ferent tissues. Our previous study showed that curcumin protects MES23.5 dopaminergic cells from 6-hydroxydopamine （6-OHDA）-induced neurotoxicity in vitro. The present study aimed to explore this neuroprotective effect in the 6-OHDA-lesioned rat model of Parkinson＇s disease in vivo. Methods Rats were given intragastric curcumin for 24 days. 6-OHDA lesioning was conducted on day 4 of curcumin treatment. Dopamine content was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, tyrosine hydroxylase （TH）-containing neurons by immunohistochemistry, and iron-containing cells by Perls＇ iron staining. Results The dopamine content in the striatum and the number of TH-immunoreactive neurons decreased after 6-OHDA treatment. Curcumin pretreatment reversed these changes. Further studies demonstrated that 6-OHDA treatment increased the number of iron-staining cells, which was dramatically decreased by curcumin pretreatment. Conclusion The protective effects of curcumin against 6-OHDA may be attributable to the ironchelating activity of curcumin to suppress the iron-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons.
＜正＞Iron regulatory protein1（IRP1） is considered as a central regulator of cellular iron metabolism,because it ...
Wen-Jie WANG,Ning SONG,Li-Sheng LV,Jun-Xia XIE~*,Jun WANG~* Department of Physiology,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders and State Key Disciplines:Physiology,Medical College of Qingdao University,Qingdao,266071,China
＜正＞Increased nigral iron levels and intracytoplasmic Lewy bodies（LBs） in the degenerating neurons are found in...
Hong JIANG~*,Qing HE,Wen-Jing LI,Ning SONG,Jun-Xia XIE~* Department of Physiology,Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders and State Key Disciplines:Physiology,Medical College of Qingdao University,Qingdao 266071,China
Epidemiological evidence and experimental studies suggest that drinking green tea is associated with a lower risk of obesity and related diseases. However, the mechanisms of these effects are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the anti-obesity mechanisms of green tea catechins (GTCs) through modulation of peroxisome proliferator activated-receptor (PPAR) pathways in high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats. GTC supplementation significantly attenuated the increased body and liver weights and the elevated serum and liver triglyceride levels. Meanwhile, GTCs increased the PPARγ levels in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (SWAT) and decreased the PPAR levels in visceral white adipose tissue (VWAT). In addition, GTC treatment up-regulated the levels of PPARδ in SWAT, VWAT, and brown adipose tissue and increased the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation in brown adipose tissue. Our results suggest that GTCs exert their anti-obesity mechanism in part by modulating PPAR signaling pathways.
