Objective To investigate the intervention effect of Fufang Dihuang Granules on the activation of nigrostriatal microglia, the expression of inflammatory factors and neurobehavior in different rat models.
Methods The 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) model rats were established by substantia nigra two-point stereotaxic injection combined with apomorphine intraperitoneal injection. The experimental rats were divided into sham operation group, model group and Fufang Dihuang granule intervention group. The rats in the drug intervention group were given 7 g/(kg·d) of Compound Dihuang Granules suspension by gavage, while the rats in the sham operation group and model group were given the same volume of normal saline (2 mL each) by gavage, 1 per day. times, for 6 consecutive weeks. The spontaneous rotation behavior induced by apomorphine was observed and recorded at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks after the successful modeling (abbreviated as 0 weeks) and at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks after the intervention. The expression levels of nigrostriatal TNF-α and other inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA. The protein expression levels of nigrostriatal Iba1 were detected by Western Blot.
Results (1) Neurobehavioral: Compared with the model group (6-OHDA group; LPS group), the spontaneous rotation behavior of the rats in the compound Dihuang Granules intervention group was significantly reduced at the 4th and 6th week (P<0.05 or P<0 .001). (2) ELISA results: Compared with the model group, the expression of pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α in the nigrostriatal nigrostriatum of the rats in the Fufang Dihuang Granules intervention group was significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.001). (3) Western Blot results: Compared with the model group, the expression of pro-inflammatory related proteins such as Iba1 in the nigrostriatum of the rats in the Fufang Dihuang Granules intervention group was significantly decreased (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 001).
Conclusion Fufang Dihuang granule can inhibit the spontaneous rotation behavior of model rats by inhibiting the activation of nigrostriatal microglia and down-regulating the expression of TNF-α and other inflammatory factors.