Withania somnifera prevents morphine withdrawal-induced decrease in spine density in nucleus accumbens shell of rats: a confocal laser scanning microscopy study.
Neurotox Res
; 16(4): 343-55, 2009 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19551457
ABSTRACT
Opiate withdrawal is associated with morphological changes of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area and with reduction of spine density of second-order dendrites of medium size spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens shell but not core. Withania somnifera has long been used in the Middle East, Africa, and India as a remedy for different conditions and diseases and a growing body of evidence points to its beneficial effects on a number of experimental models of neurological disorders. Recently, many studies focused on the potential neuritic regeneration and synaptic reconstruction properties of its methanolic extract and its constituents (withanolides). This study investigates whether morphine withdrawal-induced spine reduction in the nucleus accumbens is affected by the administration of a Withania somnifera extract. To this end, rats were chronically treated with Withania somnifera extract along with morphine or saline and, upon spontaneous (1 and 3 days) or pharmacologically precipitated withdrawal, their brains were fixed in Golgi-Cox stain for confocal microscopic examination. In a separate group of animals, Withania somnifera extract was administered during three days of spontaneous withdrawal. Withania somnifera extract treatment reduced the severity of the withdrawal syndrome when given during chronic morphine but not during withdrawal. In addition, treatment with Withania somnifera extract during chronic morphine, but not during withdrawal, fully prevented the reduction of spine density in the nucleus accumbens shell in spontaneous and pharmacologically precipitated morphine withdrawal. These results indicate that pretreatment with Withania somnifera extract protects from the structural changes induced by morphine withdrawal potentially providing beneficial effects on the consequences related to this condition.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Síndrome de Abstinencia a Sustancias
/
Extractos Vegetales
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Withania
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Espinas Dendríticas
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Morfina
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Núcleo Accumbens
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neurotox Res
Asunto de la revista:
NEUROLOGIA
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia