To investigate the protective effect of salidroside on neurons and autonomic nervous function in MPTP induced Parkinson's disease mouse model.

19 adult male C57 / 6J mice were randomly divided into control group (normal mice), PD model group without medication (PD group), and PD model group treated with salidroside (salidroside intervention group, salidroside dissolved in drinking water, 40 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, 2 weeks before MPTP administration), with 6-8 mice in each group. MPTP (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally once a day for 4 days. The mice were killed on the 7th day after the last injection. Before the mice were killed, the pressor and antihypertensive drugs were given under anesthesia, and the blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. After the mice were killed, dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPC), nucleus tractus solitaril (NTS) and rostral ventrolateral medullary (RVLM) were counted and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Analysis of variance was used for comparison among groups, and LSD-t test was used for further pairwise comparison.

There was significant difference in the number of neurons in SNPC area among the three groups (F=81.920, P < 0.01), and the number of neurons in salidroside intervention group was significantly higher than that in model group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of neurons in RVLM and NTS among the three groups (F=7.970, 11.660, P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in sympathetic activity, parasympathetic activity and the ratio of the two among the three groups (F=0.97, 1.57, 1.05, P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the slope of baroreflex among the three groups (F=1.500, 1.940, P > 0.05).

Salidroside has protective effects on the midbrain nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons caused by MPTP, which can significantly inhibit the pathological process of PD. However, it has no protective effects on autonomic function.