ObjectiveTo study the effect of rotenone on rat substantia nigra dopamine (DA) in the nervous system and oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde and glutathione), the influence of rotenone on DA neurons toxic effect and its pathogenesis. MethodsThis study applied back subcutaneous injection of rotenone in rats [1.0 mg/(kg·d)], and used immunocytochemistry technique to detect changes in the expression of tyrosine kinase (TH) in 10 rats of the control group and 10 rats of the experimental group. Spectrophotometry was used to detect the change of oxidative stress parameters in rats (malondialdehyde and glutathione). ResultsDA neurons in rats had various degrees of damage. The TH immune response strength of rats in the substantia nigra and striatum decreased significantly. The number of immune response nigra TH positive neurons was significantly less in the experimental group than in the control group (P< 0.01). Spectrophotometer method was used to detect the midbrain nigra of glutathione, which was significantly less in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.01). Malondialdehyde in the experimental group was significantly higher (P<0.01). ConclusionRotenone has obvious neurotoxicity, and can lead to the damage of DA neurons and obvious oxidative stress injury in rats, which provides an experimental basis for the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, and at the same time provides new targets for the treatment.