Acta Anatomica Sinica

AAS ›› 2015, Vol. ›› Issue (3): 317-323.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2015.03.005

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Effect of allopregnanolone on the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of APPswe/PSEN1 mice

ZHANG Peng 1,2 QI Shuang-shuang3 XIE Ming-qi 1,2 LIAO Min 2,4 LIU Fen 2,4 ZHOU Peng 1,2CUI Huai-rui 1,2 SUN Chen-you 1,2*   

  1. 1.Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Wenzhou 325035, China; 2.Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Wenzho 325035, China; 3.Department of Pharmacy, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children’s Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Wenzhou 325035, China; 4.Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Wenzhou 325035, China

  • Received:2014-09-28 Revised:2014-12-02 Online:2015-06-06 Published:2015-06-06
  • Contact: SUN Chen-you E-mail:sunchenyou1972@aliyun.com

Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the effect of allopregnanolone (APα) on the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neuron in the substantia nigra (SN) of the transgenic mouse of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods Immunopositive cells were observed and measured in the 4-month-old male mice (n=31) using an immuno-staining technique.
Results The APα level and the number of TH-positive neurons were reduced in the double-transgenic AD mouse (2×TgAD), and these reductions were present prior to the appearance of β-amyloid positive plaques. APα treatment prevented the decrease of the total number of neurons, TH-positive neurons and TH/bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-double positive neurons in the SN of 2×TgAD mice although the decreased intensities of TH-positive neural fibers were not rescued in the striatum. In addition, APα administration had an apparent increase in the number of new-born mature neurons without affecting the new-generating astrocytes in the SN of 2×TgAD mice. Conclusion A lower level of endogenous APα is implicated in the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the 2×TgAD mice. Exogenous APα can recover the reducing TH-positive neurons by promoting their neurogenesis in the 2×TgAD mice.