Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine (MPTP).Methods32 C57BL/ 6 male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: Model group was administrated with 16 mg/kg MPTP (i.p., four times, 2 h interval); Sham group was treated with saline; EGCG treatment group was given EGCG (5 mg/kg) after MPTP administration; normal group was just given EGCG (5 mg/kg) as treatment group. After given EGCG for 3 weeks, behavioral tests, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry staining and the HPLC for dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were used.ResultsThe present results indicated that oral administration of EGCG significantly improved the behavioral impairement in mice induced by MPTP (P<0.05). And in the EGCG treatment group, there were more TH-positive neurons than in model group. In addition, levels of DA and its metabolites in striatum decreased significantly in MPTP group (P<0.05). Though the concentration of DA and its metabolites in EGCG treatment group tended to increase, however, there was no significance between EGCG treatment and model group.ConclusionEGCG could improve the behavioral impairment in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by MPTP and protect against the loss of the dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN).

Key words: Parkinson's disease (PD), Epigallocatechin Gallate(EGCG), neuroprotection, dopamine