Neuroprotective Effects of PEP-1-Cu,Zn-SOD against Ischemic Neuronal Damage in the Rabbit Spinal Cord

Gynura procumbens has been used in Southeast Asia for the treatment of hypertension, hyperglycemia, and skin problems induced by ultraviolet irradiation. Although considerable studies have reported the biological properties of Gynura procumbens root extract (GPE-R), there are no studies on the effects of GPE-R in brain damages, for example following brain ischemia. In the present study, we screened the neuroprotective effects of GPE-R against ischemic damage and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus based on behavioral, morphological, and biological approaches. Gerbils received oral administration of GPE-R (30 and 300 mg/kg) every day for three weeks and 2 h after the last administration, ischemic surgery was done by occlusion of both common carotid arteries for 5 min. Administration of 300 mg/kg GPE-R significantly reduced ischemia-induced locomotor hyperactivity 1 day after ischemia. Significantly more NeuN-positive neurons were observed in the hippocampal CA1 regions of 300 mg/kg GPE-R-treated animals compared to those in the vehicle-treated group 4 days after ischemia. Administration of GPE-R significantly reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β, -6, and tumor necrosis factor-α 6 h after ischemia/reperfusion. In addition, activated microglia were significantly decreased in the 300 mg/kg GPE-R-treated group four days after ischemia/reperfusion compared to the vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that GPE-R may be one of the possible agents to protect neurons from ischemic damage by reducing inflammatory responses.

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Vitamin D Deficiency Induces Chronic Pain and Microglial Phenotypic Changes in Mice

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073604 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3604

Author(s):

Nicola Alessio ◽

Carmela Belardo ◽

Maria Consiglia Trotta ◽

Salvatore Paino ◽

Serena Boccella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Vitamin D Deficiency ◽

Morphological Analysis ◽

Pain Perception ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Ros Generation ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

Neuroprotective Effects

The bioactive form of vitamin .D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D3), exerts immunomodulatory actions resulting in neuroprotective effects potentially useful against neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. In fact, vitamin D deficiency status has been correlated with painful manifestations associated with different pathological conditions. In this study, we have investigated the effects of vitamin D deficiency on microglia cells, as they represent the main immune cells responsible for early defense at central nervous system (CNS), including chronic pain states. For this purpose, we have employed a model of low vitamin D intake during gestation to evaluate possible changes in primary microglia cells obtained from postnatal day(P)2-3 pups. Afterwards, pain measurement and microglia morphological analysis in the spinal cord level and in brain regions involved in the integration of pain perception were performed in the parents subjected to vitamin D restriction. In cultured microglia, we detected a reactive—activated and proliferative—phenotype associated with intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Oxidative stress was closely correlated with the extent of DNA damage and increased β-galactosidase (B-gal) activity. Interestingly, the incubation with 25D3 or 1,25D3 or palmitoylethanolamide, an endogenous ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-alpha (PPAR-α), reduced most of these effects. Morphological analysis of ex-vivo microglia obtained from vitamin-D-deficient adult mice revealed an increased number of activated microglia in the spinal cord, while in the brain microglia appeared in a dystrophic phenotype. Remarkably, activated (spinal) or dystrophic (brain) microglia were detected in a prominent manner in females. Our data indicate that vitamin D deficiency produces profound modifications in microglia, suggesting a possible role of these cells in the sensorial dysfunctions associated with hypovitaminosis D.

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Sonic Hedgehog modulates the inflammatory response and improves functional recovery after spinal cord injury in a thoracic contusion–compression model

European Spine Journal ◽

10.1007/s00586-021-06796-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hao Zhang ◽

Alexander Younsi ◽

Guoli Zheng ◽

Mohamed Tail ◽

Anna-Kathrin Harms ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Sonic Hedgehog ◽

Functional Recovery ◽

Intrathecal Administration ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽

Shh Pathway ◽

Thoracic Spinal ◽

Cord Injury

Abstract Purpose The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway has been associated with a protective role after injury to the central nervous system (CNS). We, therefore, investigated the effects of intrathecal Shh-administration in the subacute phase after thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) on secondary injury processes in rats. Methods Twenty-one Wistar rats were subjected to thoracic clip-contusion/compression SCI at T9. Animals were randomized into three treatment groups (Shh, Vehicle, Sham). Seven days after SCI, osmotic pumps were implanted for seven-day continuous intrathecal administration of Shh. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score, Gridwalk test and bodyweight were weekly assessed. Animals were sacrificed six weeks after SCI and immunohistological analyses were conducted. The results were compared between groups and statistical analysis was performed (p < 0.05 was considered significant). Results The intrathecal administration of Shh led to significantly increased polarization of macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype, significantly decreased T-lymphocytic invasion and significantly reduced resident microglia six weeks after the injury. Reactive astrogliosis was also significantly reduced while changes in size of the posttraumatic cyst as well as the overall macrophagic infiltration, although reduced, remained insignificant. Finally, with the administration of Shh, gain of bodyweight (216.6 ± 3.65 g vs. 230.4 ± 5.477 g; p = 0.0111) and BBB score (8.2 ± 0.2 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 points; p = 0.0365) were significantly improved compared to untreated animals six weeks after SCI as well. Conclusion Intrathecal Shh-administration showed neuroprotective effects with attenuated neuroinflammation, reduced astrogliosis and improved functional recovery six weeks after severe contusion/compression SCI.

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Neuroprotective effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and relationship to promotion of angiogenesis after spinal cord injury in rats

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2011.5.spine10421 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 414-421 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Junko Kawabe ◽

Masao Koda ◽

Masayuki Hashimoto ◽

Takayuki Fujiyoshi ◽

Takeo Furuya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Treated Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor ◽

Colony Stimulating Factor ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Bone Marrow Derived Cells ◽

Stimulating Factor ◽

Angiogenic Cytokines

Object Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has neuroprotective effects on the CNS. The authors have previously demonstrated that G-CSF also exerts neuroprotective effects in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) by enhancing migration of bone marrow–derived cells into the damaged spinal cord, increasing glial differentiation of bone marrow–derived cells, enhancing antiapoptotic effects on both neurons and oligodendrocytes, and by reducing demyelination and expression of inflammatory cytokines. Because the degree of angiogenesis in the subacute phase after SCI correlates with regenerative responses, it is possible that G-CSF's neuroprotective effects after SCI are due to enhancement of angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of G-CSF on the vascular system after SCI. Methods A contusive SCI rat model was used and the animals were randomly allocated to either a G-CSF–treated group or a control group. Integrity of the blood–spinal cord barrier was evaluated by measuring the degree of edema in the cord and the volume of extravasation. For histological evaluation, cryosections were immunostained with anti–von Willebrand factor and the number of vessels was counted to assess revascularization. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess expression of angiogenic cytokines, and recovery of motor function was assessed with function tests. Results In the G-CSF–treated rats, the total number of vessels with a diameter > 20 μm was significantly larger and expression of angiogenic cytokines was significantly higher than those in the control group. The G-CSF–treated group showed significantly greater recovery of hindlimb function than the control group. Conclusions These results suggest that G-CSF exerts neuroprotective effects via promotion of angiogenesis after SCI.

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Function of the nucleus accumbens in motor control during recovery after spinal cord injury

Science ◽

10.1126/science.aab3825 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 350 (6256) ◽

pp. 98-101 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Masahiro Sawada ◽

Kenji Kato ◽

Takeharu Kunieda ◽

Nobuhiro Mikuni ◽

Susumu Miyamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Nucleus Accumbens ◽

High Frequency ◽

Neuronal Damage ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Oscillatory Activity ◽

Finger Movements ◽

Early Recovery ◽

Cord Injury

Motivation facilitates recovery after neuronal damage, but its mechanism is elusive. It is generally thought that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) regulates motivation-driven effort but is not involved in the direct control of movement. Using causality analysis, we identified the flow of activity from the NAc to the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) during the recovery of dexterous finger movements after spinal cord injury at the cervical level in macaque monkeys. Furthermore, reversible pharmacological inactivation of the NAc during the early recovery period diminished high-frequency oscillatory activity in the SMC, which was accompanied by a transient deficit of amelioration in finger dexterity obtained by rehabilitation. These results demonstrate that during recovery after spinal damage, the NAc up-regulates the high-frequency activity of the SMC and is directly involved in the control of finger movements.

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The effects of methylprednisolone and the ganglioside GM1 on acute spinal cord injury in rats

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1994.80.1.0097 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 97-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 248

Author(s):

Shlomo Constantini ◽

Wise Young

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Body Weight Loss ◽

Ganglioside Gm1 ◽

Rat Spinal Cord ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Content Type ◽

Human Spinal Cord ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Fine Print

✓ Recent clinical trials have reported that methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP) or the monosialic ganglioside GM1 improves neurological recovery in human spinal cord injury. Because GM1 may have additive or synergistic effects when used with MP, the authors compared MP, GM1, and MP+GM1 treatments in a graded rat spinal cord contusion model. Spinal cord injury was caused by dropping a rod weighing 10 gm from a height of 1.25, 2.5, or 5.0 cm onto the rat spinal cord at T-10, which had been exposed via laminectomy. The lesion volumes were quantified from spinal cord Na and K shifts at 24 hours after injury and the results were verified histologically in separate experiments. A single dose of MP (30 mg/kg), given 5 minutes after injury, reduced 24-hour spinal cord lesion volumes by 56% (p = 0.0052), 28% (p = 0.0065), and 13% (p > 0.05) in the three injury-severity groups, respectively, compared to similarly injured control groups treated with vehicle only. Methylprednisolone also prevented injury-induced hyponatremia and increased body weight loss in the spine-injured rats. When used alone, GM1 (10 to 30 mg/kg) had little or no effect on any measured variable compared to vehicle controls; when given concomitantly with MP, GM1 blocked the neuroprotective effects of MP. At a dose of 3 mg/kg, GM1 partially prevented MP-induced reductions in lesion volumes, while 10 to 30 mg/kg of GM1 completely blocked these effects of MP. The effects of MP on injury-induced hyponatremia and body weight loss were also blocked by GM1. Thus, GM1 antagonized both central and peripheral effects of MP in spine-injured rats. Until this interaction is clarified, the authors recommend that MP and GM1 not be used concomitantly to treat acute human spinal cord injury. Because GM1 modulates protein kinase activity, protein kinases inhibit lipocortins, and lipocortins mediate anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids, it is proposed that the neuroprotective effects of MP are partially due to anti-inflammatory effects and that GM1 antagonizes the effects of MP by inhibiting lipocortin. Possible beneficial effects of GM1 reported in central nervous system injury may be related to the effects on neural recovery rather than acute injury processes.

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Assessment of the neuroprotective effects of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor huperzine A in an experimental spinal cord trauma model

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences ◽

10.23736/s0390-5616.16.03428-7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Veysel Antar ◽

Oguz Baran ◽

Sahin Yuceli ◽

Hakan Erdogan ◽

Ozge Altintas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor ◽

Huperzine A ◽

Spinal Cord Trauma ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Trauma Model

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PRAMIPEXOLE DIHYDROCHLORIDE LOADED MPEGPCL NANOSUSPENSION BY MODIFIED NANOPRECIPITATION: IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EVALUATION

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2016.v9i6.13979 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 161

Author(s):

Soma Sundaram

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

Zeta Potential ◽

Cell Viability ◽

Neuronal Damage ◽

Antioxidant Potential ◽

Enzymatic Antioxidants ◽

In Vivo Evaluation ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Pramipexole Dihydrochloride

AbstractAim and Objectives The present study was carried out to show the potential neuroprotective effects in both invitro and invivo pramipexole dihydrochloride nanosuspension for the treatment in Parkinson’s disease.Materials and Methods: Nanosuspension of pramipexole dihydrochloride was prepared with MPEG-PCL and Pluronic F68 by the process of modified nanoprecipitation technique with different concentrations of MPEG-PCL. The particle size, zeta potential, SEM, TEM and invitro dug release where performed. The cell viability study was performed by using SH-SY5Y cells. Further the formulation is evaluated for its antioxidant potential against rotenone induced neuronal damage in Wister rats such as enzymatic, non enzymatic antioxidants and histopathological evaluation.Result and Discussion: The nanoformulation shows least particle size of 143 nm and maximum zeta potential value 33.4 mv with 88.53% entrapment efficiency were observed with PMPNP 2 formulation. The SEM, TEM and invitro dug release of PMPNP 2 were shows spherical shape with controlled release when compared to other formulations. Further the MTT assay were performed by using SH-SY5Y cells which shows more than 50 % cell viability with 50 µl of PPMNP 2 nanoformulation. Further the antioxidant potential done in rotenone induced neuronal damage in Wister rats. The results showed elevation in the levels of enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidants compared with neuronal toxic group. Further nanoformulation group showed decrease in levels of LPO which correlates with histopathological architecture.Conclusion: Our study concluded that nanoformulation showed better protective potential in both invitro and invivo compare to free drug for the treatment in Parkinson’s disease.Keywords: Pramipexoledihydrochloride; MPEG-PCL; SH-SY5Y cells; Nanoprecipitation; Parkinson’s disease.

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