Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of octacosanol on the behavioral changes and its potential mechanism in 6-hydroxydopamineinduced Parkinsonism rats. Methods 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonism rats accepted octacosanol orally in the dosage of 17.5mg/kg (low dose), 35 mg/kg (medium dose) and 70 mg/kg (high dose) for 2 weeks, and then assessed with rotating test and narrow beam test. The apoptosis cells were counted with TUNEL assay, and the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), precursor of nerve growth factor (proNGF), as well as their receptors were detected with Western blotting. Results The achievement of behavioral tests significantly improved after administration of octacosanol (P<0.05), with the decrease of the apoptotic cells, more expression of NGF and its receptors TrkA, and less expression of caspase-3, proNGF and its receptors p75NTR and sortilin, especially at the dosage of 70 mg/kg (P<0.05). Conclusion Octacosanol may protect the neurol impairment from 6-hydroxydopamine through NGF mediated pathway to decrease the apoptosis.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, nerve growth factor, precursor of nerve growth factor, neuroprotection, apoptosis, rats