Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA, Ephrin B2 and p-c-Jun in substantia nigra of mice with Parkinson disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), and to explore the value of GDNF in the treatment of Parkinson disease. Methods Parkinson 's rat model was established with MPTP. Then 72 model mice were randomly divided into an experimental group and a model group with 36 in each group. Additional 36 healthy mice were randomly selected as the control group. GDNF was injected into the right lateral ventricle in the experimental group, while normal saline was injected into the right lateral ventricle in the model group and the control group. The changes of TH mRNA, Ephrin B2 and p-c-Jun proteins were detected and the changes of TH neurons in three groups were compared after 10 d. Results The number of injured neurons was smaller and the nerve fiber density was lower in the model and experimental groups than in the control group (P < 0.05), and the number of neurons in the experimental group was larger than that in the model group (P < 0.05). The expression of TH mRNA in the model group was lower than that in the control group and the experimental group (P < 0.05). The expressions of Ephrin B2 and p-c-Jun in the model group were higher than those in the control group and the experimental group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor can protect mouse dopaminergic neurons, suggesting that it may have certain value in the treatment of human Parkinson disease.