Gastrodin ameliorates Parkinson's disease by downregulating connexin 43

  • Authors:
    • Yu Wang
    • Zhe Wu
    • Xu Liu
    • Qunying Fu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 19, 2013     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2013.1535
  • Pages: 585-590
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Gastrodin, the predominant constituent of a Chinese herbal medicine, has been utilized in the prevention of Parkinson's disease (PD); however, its mechanism of action remains unknown. Astrocytes are involved in PD and are proposed to be coupled with gap junction connexin 43 (Cx43). To evaluate the effects of gastrodin on PD, the effect of gastrodin on Cx43 in astrocytes and in a PD model were observed. Different doses of gastrodin were added to the astrocyte culture medium or injected into the rotenone model of PD. The relative expression of Cx43 was determined by qPCR and western blot analysis, while gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was quantified using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). The phosphorylated Cx43 was significantly inhibited by gastrodin and the quantity of GJIC was significantly downregulated compared with that of the control cells (P<0.05). In addition, in the rat model of PD induced by rotenone, phosphorylated Cx43 was selectively enhanced in the striatal and hippocampal regions. The enhanced activity was inhibited significantly by gastrodin treatment (P<0.01). Gastrodin results in the prevention of PD by reducing the expression of Cx43 and inhibiting the phosphorylation of Cx43; therefore, it may offer a potential therapeutic alternative for patients with PD.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August 2013
Volume 8 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Wang Y, Wu Z, Liu X and Fu Q: Gastrodin ameliorates Parkinson's disease by downregulating connexin 43. Mol Med Rep 8: 585-590, 2013.
APA
Wang, Y., Wu, Z., Liu, X., & Fu, Q. (2013). Gastrodin ameliorates Parkinson's disease by downregulating connexin 43. Molecular Medicine Reports, 8, 585-590. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2013.1535
MLA
Wang, Y., Wu, Z., Liu, X., Fu, Q."Gastrodin ameliorates Parkinson's disease by downregulating connexin 43". Molecular Medicine Reports 8.2 (2013): 585-590.
Chicago
Wang, Y., Wu, Z., Liu, X., Fu, Q."Gastrodin ameliorates Parkinson's disease by downregulating connexin 43". Molecular Medicine Reports 8, no. 2 (2013): 585-590. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2013.1535