Objective: To investigate the effect of puerarin on the expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF)

c-fos

c-jun in substantia nigra of Parkinsons rats induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Method: Parkinsons rat model was established

model rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:model group

L-dopa group (40 mg·kg-1)

low-

medium-and high-dosage groups of puerarin (20

40

80 mg·kg-1). The drugs were intragastrically perfused to rats daily for 30 days. The changes of nissl bodies in nerve cells of substantia nigra were observed by Nissl staining. The expression of NGF was tested by immunohistochemistry assay. And the c-fos

c-jun mRNA levels were tested by in situ hybridization analysis. Result: Compared to model group

the neuronal cells were badly injured and expression of NGF

c-fos

c-jun mRNA was obviously reduced in substantia nigra of PD rats in model group. Compared to model group

puerarin effectively increased nissl bodies in neuronal cells of substantia nigra of PD rats

and elevated the number of NGF-immunoreactive cells in substantia nigra (P<0.01). The expressions of c-fos

c-jun mRNA were significantly up-regulated. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that puerarin has a neuroprotection on the neuronal cells in substantia nigra of PD rats induced by 6-OHDA

though the underlying mechanisms that may be associated with regulation of c-fos/c-jun expressions to mediate neuronic repairment and enhance the signaling transduction.