Protective Effect of Aloperine on Dopamine Neurons of Parkinson's Disease by Activating Autophagy

Objection: To investigate whether Aloperine protects dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) by activating autophagy and discuss its specific mechanism. Methods: C57BL/6 male mice were performed treated with MPTP (30 mg/kg) once daily for 7 d continuously to establish PD models. Dividing mice into Normal, Model, Alo and Alo+3-methyladenine (3-MA) groups. Aloperine (80 mg/kg) and Aloperine (80 mg/kg)+ 3-MA (2 mg/kg) were added into the mice of Alo and Alo+ 3-MA groups at the time of MPTP injection once daily. In the normal control group, sterile saline was injected into the abdomen simultaneously (30 ml/kg). Measuring apoptosis cell number by TUNEL assay, evaluating TH positive cell number, LAMP2A, α-Syn and LC3 including LC3-I and LC3-II proteins expression by IHC assay. Results: The apoptosis cell number of Model group was significantly increased (P < 0 05); Alo treatment, apoptosis cell number was significantly depressed (P < 0 05); while, the 3-MA supplement, the apoptosis cell number was significantly up-regulation (P < 0 05). Meanwhile, with Alo supplement, the relative protein including LAMP2A, -Syn, LC3-I and LC3-II proteins expressions were improved. Conclusion: Alo improved Parkinson's disease via regulation autophagy in vivo study.