ABSTRACT
Dehydroeffusol, a major phenanthrene in Juncus effusus, protects neurodegeneration induced by intracellular Zn2+ ferried by extracellular amyloid ß1-42 (Aß1-42). Here we focused on adrenaline ß receptor activation and the induction of metallothioneins (MTs), intracellular Zn2+-binding proteins to test the protective mechanism of dehydroeffusol. Isoproterenol, an agonist of adrenergic ß receptors elevated the level of MTs in the dentate granule cell layer 1 day after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection. When Aß1-42 was injected 1 day after isoproterenol injection, pre-injection of isoproterenol protected Aß1-42 toxicity via reducing the increase in intracellular Zn2+ after ICV injection of Aß1-42. On the basis of the effect of increased MTs by isoproterenol, dehydroeffusol (15 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered to mice once a day for 2 days. On day later, dehydroeffusol elevated the level of MTs and prevented Aß1-42 toxicity via reducing Aß1-42-mediated increase in intracellular Zn2+. In contrast, propranolol, an antagonist of adrenergic ß receptors reduced the level of MTs increased by dehydroeffusol, resulting in invalidating the preventive effect of dehydroeffusol on Aß1-42 toxicity. The present study indicates that blockage of MT synthesis via adrenaline ß receptor activation invalidates dehydroeffusol-mediated prevention of Aß1-42 toxicity. It is likely that MT synthesis via adrenaline ß receptor activation is beneficial to neuroprotection and that oral intake of dehydroeffusol preventively serves against the Aß1-42 toxicity.