BACKGROUND: To date, a complete protein expression profile of the midbrain substantia nigra in a mouse model of chronic Parkinsons disease, induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), does not exist. In addition, there are no reports of analysis of differential protein expression.OBJECTIVE: To separate and evaluate MPTP-induced differential protein expression through the use of proteomics in the substantia nigra of a mouse model of chronic Parkinsons disease.DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study.SETTING: Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University.MATERIALS: Sixteen 8-10-week old, healthy, male, C57BL mice, weighing 20-25g, and of clean grade, were provided by the Experimental Animal Center of Chongqing Medical University. The experimental animals were disposed according to ethical criteria. MPTP was provided by Sigma Company, USA; Pdquest 2D image analysis software and gelatum/irradiance image analysis system (ChemiDoc XRS) by Bio-Rad, USA; and Voyager DE-PROMALDI-TOF-MS mass spectroscopy analyzer by ABI Company, USA.METHODS: This study was performed in Chongqing Neurological Laboratory between November 2006 and July 2007. Mice were randomly divided into model and control groups, with 8 mice in each group. Mice in the model group were Received a subcutaneous injection of MPTP (25mg/kg), twice a week, for five successive weeks, to establish a chronic Parkinsons disease model. Mice in the control group 收稿日期 the same volume of a subcutaneous saline injection at the same time points. Mice were sacrificed by anesthesia to rapidly obtain the midbrain for protein separation of the substantia nigra.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) 2-ED handbook (Bio-Rad Company) was referenced for two-dimensional electrophoresis. (2) PDQUEST8.0 analytical electrophoresis pattern was adopted to evaluate differential protein expression. (3) Peptide mass finger print map and data were retrieved on http://www.prospector.ucsf.edu to compare differential substantia nigral protein expression in the two groups.RESULTS: Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of substantia nigra tissue indicated that there were 33 differential protein expressions between the two groups. Three new proteins were evaluated, including α-enolase, which exhibited regulated expression, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B.CONCLUSION: There are three proteins that exhibit differential expression in the substantia nigra-α-enolase, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B.