Abstract
Objectives: The protective effect of estrogen on the neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of estrogen on the apoptosis and dopaminergic function on a cultured cell model of PD.Methods: PD model was established by addition of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) PC12 cell culture. Estrogen was added to cell groups with MPP+ (Estrogen+MPP+), and without MPP+ (Estrogen only group). The cell viability, content of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), apoptosis ratio, expression of apoptosis-suppression protein Bcl-x and apoptosis-acceleration protein IL-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) were measured.Results: The cell viability in the Estrogen+MPP+ group was similar to the control group but was higher than in the MPP+ group (P<0.05). The apoptosis ratio in the Estrogen+MPP+ group (33.6%), and the control group (31.3%), was also similar, but it was lower than in the MPP+ group (63.5%, P<0.05). The concentrations of and Bcl-x in the Estrogen+MPP+ group were higher, whereas ICE concentrations were lower than in the MPP+ group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Estrogen suppresses the apoptosis and improves cell viability in MPP+ induced injuries in the PC12 cells. The beneficial effects of estrogen on the PD model are due to the suppression of pro-apoptotic protein ICE, and stimulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | E258-E264 |
| Journal | Clinical and Investigative Medicine |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |