?-Methylphenylalanine exerts neuroprotective effects in a Parkinson's disease model by protecting against tyrosine hydroxylase depletion.
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ABSTRACT: We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of ?-methylphenylalanine in an experimental model of rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) in SH-SY5Y cells and rats. Cells were pre-treated with rotenone (2.5 µg/mL) for 24 hours followed by ?-methylphenylalanine (1, 10 and 100 mg/L) for 72 hours. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial fragmentation, apoptosis, and mRNA and protein levels of tyrosine hydroxylase were determined. In a rat model of PD, dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels, bradykinesia and tyrosine hydroxylase expression were determined. In rotenone-pre-treated cells, ?-methylphenylalanine significantly increased cell viability and MMP, whereas ROS levels, apoptosis and fragmented mitochondria were reduced. ?-Methylphenylalanine significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of tyrosine hydroxylase in SH-SY5Y cells. In the rotenone-induced rat model of PD, oral administration of ?-methylphenylalanine recovered DA and DOPAC levels and bradykinesia. ?-Methylphenylalanine significantly increased the protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the striatum and substantia nigra of rats. In addition, in silico molecular docking confirmed binding between tyrosine hydroxylase and ?-methylphenylalanine. Our experimental results show neuroprotective effects of ?-methylphenylalanine via the recovery of mitochondrial damage and protection against the depletion of tyrosine hydroxylase. We propose that ?-methylphenylalanine may be useful in the treatment of PD.
SUBMITTER: Feng Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7520294 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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