Curcumin protects purkinje neurons, ameliorates motor function and reduces cerebellar atrophy in rat model of cerebellar ataxia induced by 3-AP.

BACKGROUND: Cerebellar ataxias comprise a group of terminal illnesses with ataxia as the main symptom. Curcumin as a yellow polyphenol was extracted from the rhizome ofCurcuma longa. Owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-tumor features, curcumin is considered as a potential therapeutic agent. AIM: In this study, we aim to investigate the neuroprotective effects of oral administration of curcumin on a rat model of cerebellar ataxia induced by neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine. METHODS: The animals were randomly separated into three groups (control, 3-acetylpyridine, and curcumin + 3-acetylpyridine). Next, motor performance and muscle electromyography activity were assessed. Then, in the molecular part of the study, the anti-apoptotic role of curcumin in cerebellar ataxia and its relationship to protection of Purkinje cells were investigated. RESULTS: Curcumin treatment improved motor coordination and muscular activity, reduced cleaved caspase-3, and increased glutathione level in 3-AP-lesioned rats as well as total volumes of cerebellar granular and molecular layers. CONCLUSION: the present study implies that curcumin might have neuroprotective effects to counteract neurotoxicity of 3-AP-induced ataxia.

Does 5, 7-Dihydroxytryptamine injection into nucleus accumbens cause hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis may be defined as diminishing tolerance to moderate and high intensity sounds in people with normal hearing sensitivity. Serotonin plays a critical role in some of auditory tasks including startle reflex and prepulse inhibition. Serotonin deficiency can cause some diseases which can coincide with hyperacusis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the probable influence of serotonergic depletion in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) on the startle reflex. The startle reflexes were examined in Wistar rats (n: 48) in different intensities with and without the background noise. The amplitude of startle reflex significantly increased in NAcc-injected rats without background noise, while this difference disappeared in the presence of background noise in all intensities. These data proposed that the injection of 5, 7-Dihydroxytryptamine (5, 7-DHT) into nucleus accumbens will cause hyperacusis-like behavior, and strengthens the possibility of the role of serotonin and nucleus accumbens in hyperacusis.

Effects of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Apiaceae) on pentylenetetrazol-induced epileptiform activity in F1 neurones of Helix aspersa.

The effect of the fruit essential oil of Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Apiaceae) (syn. Cuminum odorum Salisb) on the epileptiform activity induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) was evaluated, using intracellular technique. The results demonstrated that extracellular application of the essential oil of Cuminum cyminum (1% and 3%) dramatically decreased the frequency of spontaneous activity induced by PTZ in a time and concentration dependent manner. In addition it showed protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced epileptic activity by increasing the duration, decreasing the amplitude of after hyperpolarization potential (AHP) following the action potential, the peak of action potential, and inhibition of the firing rate. These membrane effects suggest cellular mechanisms by which the essential oil of Cuminum cyminum can inhibit the PTZ-induced epileptic activity.