Therapeutic effects of GM1 on Parkinson's disease in rats and its mechanism.

Objective: To observe the effects of GM1 on apomorphine (APO)-induced rotational behavior and the expression of inflammatory factors in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) rat models.

Methods: Mature and healthy Wistar rats of either sex with body weight of 150-200 g were randomly divided into control group, PD+APO group and PD+APO+GM1 group (10 mg/kg of GM1, intraperitoneally, once a day, for 14 days; each group with 15 rats). PD rat models were prepared by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine into rat's right striatum, and then rotational behavior was induced by intraperitoneal injection of APO 7 days after operation. Rat rotational behavior was observed, and mRNA and protein levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-1Ra (IL-1Ra) were determined, respectively, by RT-PCR and Western blot.

Results: Compared with PD+APO group, the rotational behavior was significantly relieved in PD+APO+GM1 group (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β in the striatum significantly increased in PD+APO group (p < 0.05). However, mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β significantly decreased in PD+APO+GM1 group compared with PD+APO group (p < 0.05), but mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β were also higher in PD+APO+GM1 group than in control group (p < 0.05). mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1Ra in the striatum were significantly higher in PD+APO+GM1 group than in PD+APO group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: GM1 can inhibit inflammatory reaction through decreasing mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and increasing mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1Ra with the therapeutic effects on PD.