Abstract: Objective This experiment was to observe the effect of rotenone on phosphorylated α-synuclein and TH expression in the rat SN of PD. Methods Rats were stereotactically injected with rotenone. Movement distance and mean speed within 30-minute were calculated with Ethovison software. TH and phosphorylated α-SYN expression of the lesioned SN were demonstrated with immunohistochemical staining. The number of TH-positive neurons and phosphorylated α-SYN-positive neurons in the lesioned SN were measured. Results Movement distance and mean speed in the PD group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05, 0.01). Compared to control group, TH-positive neurons counts in the lesioned SN in the PD group was reduced(P<0.01). The numbers of α-SYN-positive neurons were significantly higher in the PD group than in the control group(P<0.01). Conclusion Injection with rotenone could induce PD symptom, significant TH-positive neurons decrease and phosphorylated α-SYN increase.

Key words: phosphorylated α-synuclein, rotenone, tyrosine hydroxylase, Parkinson’s Disease