Protective effect of Zhen-Wu-Tang (ZWT) through keeping DA stable and VMAT 2/DAT mRNA in balance in rats with striatal lesions induced by MPTP.

Zhen-Wu-Tang (ZWT), the modified formulation of a classical Chinese prescription from "Treaties on Febrile Disease", was clinically employed to treat Parkinson's disease. To investigate the neuroprotective effect of ZWT on intra-striatum injection of MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease in rats. The effect of ZWT on the behavioral changes (open-field test, Ladder walking, spontaneous alternation in Y maze), the dopamine transmitter systems of substantia nigra, striatum and frontal cortex of rats by HPLC-ECD, mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine transporter (DAT) and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT 2) of the above three brain regions was investigated. This study showed that ZWT not only ameliorated the behavior induced by the administration of MPTP in striatum, but also increased DA in the brain, prevented the decreasing of TH and balanced the ratio of VMAT 2/DAT in mRNA level. These results suggest that ZWT possesses neuroprotective and anti-parkinsonism properties.