Cypermethrin Impairs Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Cognitive Functions by Altering Neural Fate Decisions in the Rat Brain.

Neurogenesis is a developmental process that involves fine-tuned coordination between self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) into neurons. However, early-life assault with environmental toxicants interferes with the regular function of genes, proteins, and other molecules that build brain architecture resulting in attenuated neurogenesis. Cypermethrin is a class II synthetic pyrethroid pesticide extensively used in agriculture, veterinary, and residential applications due to its low mammalian toxicity, high bio-efficacy, and enhanced stability. Despite reports on cypermethrin-mediated behavioral and biochemical alterations, till now, no study implicates whether cypermethrin exposure has any effect on neurogenesis. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to comprehend the effects of cypermethrin treatment on embryonic and adult neurogenesis. We found that cypermethrin exposure led to a considerable decrease in the BrdU/Sox-2+, BrdU/Dcx+, and BrdU/NeuN+ co-labeled cells indicating that cypermethrin treatment decreases NSC proliferation and generation of mature and functional neurons. On the contrary, the generation of BrdU/S100ß+ glial cells was increased resulting in neurogliogenesis imbalance in the hippocampus. Further, cypermethrin treatment also led to an increased number of BrdU/cleaved caspase-3+ and Fluoro-Jade B+ cells suggesting an induction of apoptosis in NSCs and increased degeneration of neurons in the hippocampus. Overall, these results explicate that cypermethrin exposure not only reduces the NSC pool but also disturbs the neuron-astrocyte ratio and potentiates neurodegeneration in the hippocampus, leading to cognitive dysfunctions in rats.

Correction to: Neuroprotective Role of Novel Triazine Derivatives by Activating Wnt/ß Catenin Signaling Pathway in Rodent Models of Alzheimer's Disease.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained mistakes in figures.

Correction to: Prenatal Exposure of Cypermethrin Induces Similar Alterations in Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Cytochrome P450s and Rate-Limiting Enzymes of Neurotransmitter Synthesis in Brain Regions of Rat Offsprings During Postnatal Development.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error at Fig. 10.

Prenatal Exposure of Cypermethrin Induces Similar Alterations in Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Cytochrome P450s and Rate-Limiting Enzymes of Neurotransmitter Synthesis in Brain Regions of Rat Offsprings During Postnatal Development.

Oral administration of low doses of cypermethrin to pregnant Wistar rats led to a dose-dependent differences in the induction of xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochrome P450s (CYPs) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in brain regions isolated from the offsprings postnatally at 3 weeks that persisted up to adulthood. Similar alterations were observed in the expression of rate-limiting enzymes of neurotransmitter synthesis in brain regions of rat offsprings. These persistent changes were associated with alterations in circulating levels of growth hormone (GH), cognitive functions, and accumulation of cypermethrin and its metabolites in brain regions of exposed offsprings. Though molecular docking studies failed to identify similarities between the docked conformations of cypermethrin with CYPs and neurotransmitter receptors, in silico analysis identified regulatory sequences of CYPs in the promoter region of rate-limiting enzymes of neurotransmitter synthesis. Further, rechallenge of the prenatally exposed offsprings at adulthood with cypermethrin (p.o. 10 mg/kg × 6 days) led to a greater magnitude of alterations in the expression of CYPs and rate-limiting enzymes of neurotransmitter synthesis in different brain regions. These alterations were associated with a greater magnitude of decrease in the circulating levels of GH and cognitive functions in rechallenged offsprings. Our data has led us to suggest that due to the immaturity of CYPs in fetus or during early development, even the low-level exposure of cypermethrin may be sufficient to interact with the CYPs, which in turn affect the neurotransmission processes and may help in explaining the developmental neurotoxicity of cypermethrin.

Neuroprotective Role of Novel Triazine Derivatives by Activating Wnt/ß Catenin Signaling Pathway in Rodent Models of Alzheimer's Disease.

It has been reported in the literature that cholinesterase inhibitors provide protection in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent reports have implicated triazine derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors. These findings led us to investigate anti-cholinestrase property of some novel triazine derivatives synthesized in this laboratory. In vitro cholinesterase inhibition assay was performed using Ellman method. The potent compounds screened out from in vitro assay were further evaluated using scopolamine-induced amnesic mice model. Further, in vitro reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and anti-apoptotic property of the potent compounds were demonstrated against Aß1-42-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampal cells. Their neuroprotective role was assessed using Aß1-42-induced Alzheimer's-like phenotype in rats. Further, the role of compounds on the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway was studied. The results showed that the chosen compounds are having protective effect in Alzheimer's-like condition; the ex vivo results advocated their anti-cholinestrase and anti-oxidant activities. Treatment with TRZ-15 and TRZ-20 showed neuroprotective ability of the compounds as evidenced from the improved cognitive ability in the animals, and decrease in Aß1-42 burden and cytochrome c and cleaved caspase-3 levels in the brain. This study also demonstrates positive involvement of the novel triazine derivatives in the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Immunoblot and immunofluorescence data suggested that ratio of pGSK3/GSK3 and ß-catenin got dramatically improved after treatment with TRZ-15 and TRZ-20. TRZ-15 and TRZ-20 showed neuroprotection in scopolamine-induced amnesic mice and Aß1-42-induced Alzheimer's rat model and also activate the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. These findings conclude that TRZ-15 and TRZ-20 could be a therapeutic approach to treat AD.

Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles potently induce adult neurogenesis and reverse cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease model via canonical Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Neurogenesis, a process of generation of new neurons, is reported to be reduced in several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Induction of neurogenesis by targeting endogenous neural stem cells (NSC) could be a promising therapeutic approach to such diseases by influencing the brain self-regenerative capacity. Curcumin, a neuroprotective agent, has poor brain bioavailability. Herein, we report that curcumin-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (Cur-PLGA-NPs) potently induce NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation in vitro and in the hippocampus and subventricular zone of adult rats, as compared to uncoated bulk curcumin. Cur-PLGA-NPs induce neurogenesis by internalization into the hippocampal NSC. Cur-PLGA-NPs significantly increase expression of genes involved in cell proliferation (reelin, nestin, and Pax6) and neuronal differentiation (neurogenin, neuroD1, neuregulin, neuroligin, and Stat3). Curcumin nanoparticles increase neuronal differentiation by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, involved in regulation of neurogenesis. These nanoparticles caused enhanced nuclear translocation of ß-catenin, decreased GSK-3ß levels, and increased promoter activity of the TCF/LEF and cyclin-D1. Pharmacological and siRNA-mediated genetic inhibition of the Wnt pathway blocked neurogenesis-stimulating effects of curcumin. These nanoparticles reverse learning and memory impairments in an amyloid beta induced rat model of AD-like phenotypes, by inducing neurogenesis. In silico molecular docking studies suggest that curcumin interacts with Wif-1, Dkk, and GSK-3ß. These results suggest that curcumin nanoparticles induce adult neurogenesis through activation of the canonical Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and may offer a therapeutic approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, by enhancing a brain self-repair mechanism.