Pramipexole Inhibits Neuronal Apoptosis in Rats with Parkinson's Disease

To explore the inhibition of pramipexole on the neuronal apoptosis and its influences on the expressions of brain tissue brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and serum miR-103a and miR-30b and inflammatory factors in rats with Parkinson's disease. A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group (n = 12), model group (n = 12) and pramipexole group (n = 12). Compared with that in normal group, the positive expression of BDNF was substantially increased in model group and pramipexole group, and its positive expression in pramipexole group was notably higher than that in model group. The WB results revealed that compared with those in normal group, the relative protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were markedly increased and decreased, respectively, in the other two groups, and that pramipexole group exhibited a remarkable decline in the relative protein expression level of Bax and a considerable increase in that of Bcl-2, compared with model group. The relative expression levels of miR-103a and miR-30b in model and pramipexole groups were markedly higher than those in normal group, and pramipexole group had remarkably higher relative expression levels of miR-103a and miR-30b than model group. It was found through ELISA that model and pramipexole groups had markedly raised IL-1β and IL-18 content compared with normal group, and their content in pramipexole group was remarkably lower than that in model group. Based on the TUNEL results, compared with that in normal group, the apoptosis rate of cells rose substantially in the other two groups, and the apoptosis rate in pramipexole group was notably lower than that in model group. Pramipexole may up-regulate the expressions of BDNF, miR-103a and miR-30b to inhibit the apoptosis and inflammation in Parkinson's disease model rats.