Abstract: Purpose: To explore whether squid gonadal phospholipids have an inhibitory effect on Parkinson’s disease (PD) induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Methods: Zebrafish embryos at 1 day post fertilization (dpf) were dechorionated and then divided into different groups including control, 50 μmol/L MPTP, and 50 μmol/L MPTP combined with different concentrations (3, 10 and 20 μg/mL) of squid gonadal phospholipids. Transgenci zebrafish Vmat:GFP and Fli1:GFP at 4 dpf were used to observe and record the development of dopaminergic neurons and brain blood vessels, respectively. At 5 dpf, we utilized the Zebrabox video-tracking system to assay the behavioral changes of wild-type AB zebrafish. Meanwhile, we analyzed the expression of PD-related genes including those encoding alpha-synuclein (α-syn), E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (parkin), PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (pink1), and tyrosine hydroxylase (th) by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Compared with the control group, zebrafish treated with MPTP exhibited loss of dopaminergic neurons, injured blood vessels in the brain, PD-like behavior, and abnormal expression of PD-related genes. In comparison to the MPTP treatment group, MPTP combined with squid gonadal phospholipids showed a decrease in the percentage dopamine neuron loss, and relieved blood vessel damage in the brain, PD-like behavior, and the abnormal expression of PD-related genes.

Key words: squid gonadal phospholipid; 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; zebrafish; Parkinson’s disease