Effects of crocin on brain oxidative damage and aversive memory in a 6-OHDA model of Parkinson’s disease

Z Rajaei; M Hosseini; H Alaei

doi:10.1590/0004-282X20160131

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2016; 74(09): 723-729
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160131

ARTICLES

Effects of crocin on brain oxidative damage and aversive memory in a 6-OHDA model of Parkinson’s disease

Efeitos da crocina no dano oxidativo cerebral e na memória aversiva em um modelo 6-OHDA de doença de Parkinson

Authors

Z Rajaei

¹Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Isfahan, Iran;

²Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Neurocognitive Research Center, Mashhad, Iran;
M Hosseini

¹Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Isfahan, Iran;
H Alaei

³Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of crocin on brain oxidative damage and memory deficits in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of Parkinson’s disease. Male Wistar rats were subjected to unilateral injection of 6-OHDA (16 μg) into the medial forebrain bundle and treated with crocin (30 and 60 mg/kg) for six weeks. The rats were tested for memory performance at six weeks after 6-OHDA infusion, and then were killed for the estimation of biochemical parameters. The increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and nitrite levels in the hippocampus were observed in the 6-OHDA lesioned rats, which was accompanied by memory deficits in a passive avoidance test at the end of week 6. Moreover, treatment with crocin decreased TBARS and nitrite levels in the hippocampus, and improved aversive memory. The present study conclusively demonstrated that crocin acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the hippocampus of parkinsonian rats and could improve aversive memory through its properties.

RESUMO

O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar o efeito da crocina no dano oxidativo cerebral e nos déficits de memória em um modelo 6-OHDA de doença de Parkinson. Ratos Wistar machos foram submetidos à injeção unilateral de 6-OHDA (16 μg) em MFB e tratados com crocina (30 e 60 mg/kg), durante 6 semanas. Os ratos foram testados quanto ao desempenho da memória 6 semanas após a infusão de 6-OHDA, e, em seguida, foram sacrificados para a estimativa dos parâmetros bioquímicos. O aumento nos níveis de TBARS e de nitrito no hipocampo foram observados em ratos 6-OHDA lesionados, acompanhado por déficits de memória em um teste de esquiva passiva no final da semana 6. Além disso, o tratamento com crocina diminuiu os níveis de nitrito e de TBARS no hipocampo e melhorou a memória aversiva. O presente estudo demonstrou conclusivamente que a crocina age como um antioxidante e um agente anti-inflamatório no hipocampo de ratos parkinsonianos e pode melhorar a memória aversiva através de suas propriedades.

Crocin - 6-hydroxydopamine - oxidative stress - nitric oxide - aversive memory - medial forebrain bundle

Crocin - 6-hidroxidopamina - estresse oxidativo - óxido nítrico - feixe medial do cérebro anterior

Full Text

References

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