Neuroprotective effects of bee venom pharmaceutical acupuncture in acute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES: We explored the neuroprotective effects of bee venom acupuncture in acute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced mouse model of Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: saline-injected control group, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-injected group and bee venom acupuncture-pretreated plus 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-injected group. Mice were injected with 0.02 ml bee venom (1 : 2000 w/v) to GB34 (Yangneungcheon) bilaterally once every 3 days for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks' pre-treatment, the mice were injected with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) four times in 2 hour intervals. Tyrosine hydroxylase and phospho-Jun immunoreactivities in the substantia nigra and striatum were observed 3 days after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine injection. RESULTS: Bee venom acupuncture prevented the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra and striatum. Moreover, bee venom acupuncture attenuated 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced phospho-Jun immunoreactivity in the substantia nigra. DISCUSSION: We found that bee venom acupuncture effectively protected dopaminergic neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine toxicity, possibly through inhibition of Jun activation. Our results suggest that bee venom acupuncture could be a potential preventive agent for Parkinson's disease.