Prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke blocks the neurotoxicity induced by kainic acid in rats

We examined the effects of cigarette smoke (CS) on three parameters associated with kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity: seizure activity, cell loss in the hippocampus, and increased Fos-related antigen (FRA) expression. Animals were exposed to the main stream of CS from 15 Kentucky 2R1F research cigarettes containing 28.6 mg tar and 1.74 mg nicotine per cigarette, for 10 min a day, 6 days per week, for 4 weeks, using an automatic smoking machine. KA administration (10 mg/kg, i.p.) produced robust behavioral convulsions lasting 4-5 h. Pre-exposure to CS significantly reduced the seizures, mortality, and severe loss of cells in regions CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus after KA administration. Consistently, pre-exposure to CS significantly attenuated the KA-induced increased FRA immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. In contrast, pretreatment with central nicotinic antagonist, mecamylamine (2 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked the neuroprotective effects mediated by CS in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that CS exposure provides neuroprotection against the KA insult via nicotinic receptor activation.     

Carbetapentane attenuates kainate-induced seizures via sigma-1 receptor modulation

We examined the effects of a non-opioid antitussive, carbetapentane (CB) on kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity in rats. KA administration (10 mg/kg, i.p.) produced robust behavioral convulsions lasting 4 to 5 h. CB (12.5 and 25 mg/kg. i.p.) pretreatment consistently and in a dose-dependent manner reduced the KA-induced seizures, mortality, and marked loss of cells in regions CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus. Consistently, CB pretreatment also significantly attenuated the KA-induced increase in Fos-related antigen immunoreactivity in the hippocampus. In contrast, pretreatment with the sigma-1 receptor antagonist BD1047 (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked, in a dose-related manner, the neuroprotection afforded by CB. These results suggest that CB provides neuroprotection against KA insult via sigma-1 receptor modulation.     

NO介质在大鼠红藻氨酸诱导癫痫发作中的作用

目的：进一步探讨脑内一氧化氮(NO)介质(NO或NO衍生物)在复杂部分性及全身强直阵挛性癫痫发作中的作用。方法：采用红藻氨酸(KA)诱导大鼠癫痫发作,以NO合酶抑制剂L-硝基精氨酸(L-NNA)或NO前体L-精氨酸(L-Arg)予以预处理,观察其癫痫发作行为及海马结构内NO含量(NO2^-/NO3^-)的变化。结果：给予大鼠惊厥剂量KA(10mg/kg),15min时出现湿狗样抖动(WDS),1～3h出现全身痉挛;经L-NNA(50mg/kg)或L-Arg(40mg/kg)预处理的大鼠,注射相同剂量的KA后,其癫痫行为发生明显变化,L-NNA预处理的大鼠癫痫发作行为明显加重,表现为全身痉挛的潜伏期缩短、时间延长、死亡率提高;L-Arg预处理的大鼠癫痫发作行为减弱,WDS和全身痉挛的潜伏期均延长,发作程度减轻、时间缩短,观察时间内无一例死亡。KA给药后30min海马结构内的NO2^-/NO3^-含量迅速增多,7d时仍持续增高;与NS预处理组相比,经L-Arg预处理的动物,KA给药后3h及3d,其NO2^-/NO3^-浓度升高明显。结论：兴奋诱导性癫痫发作过程中内源性NO介质的变化可能具有重要的抗发作作用。     

Neuroprotective effect of curcumin in middle cerebral artery occlusion induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Free radical induced neuronal damage is implicated in cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and antioxidants are reported to have neuroprotective activity. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have proved the antioxidant potential of curcumin and its metabolites. Hence, in the present study the neuroprotective potential of curcumin was investigated in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced focal cerebral IR injury. 2 h of MCAO and 22 h of reperfusion resulted in the infarct volume of 210.39 +/- 31.25 mm3. Administration of curcumin 100 and 300 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min. after MCAO produced 37.23 +/- 5.10% and 46.39 +/- 10.23% (p < 0.05) reduction in infarct volume, respectively. Ischemia induced cerebral edema was reduced in a dose dependent manner. Curcumin at 300 mg/kg, i.p. produced 50.96 +/- 6.04% reduction in edema (p < 0.05) volume. Increase in lipid peroxidation after MCAO in ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere of brain was observed, which was reduced by curcumin (300 mg/kg, i.p.)-treatment. Decrease in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed in ipsilateral hemisphere of MCAO animal. Curcumin-treatment (300 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented IR injury mediated fall in glutathione peroxide activity. Peroxynitrite measured using rhodamine123 fluorescence and anti-nitrotyrosine immunofluorescence indicated increased peroxynitrite formation after IR insult. Curcumin-treatment reduced peroxynitrite formation and hence the extent of tyrosine nitration in the cytosolic proteins. These results suggest the neuroprotective potential of curcumin in cerebral ischemia and is mediated through its antioxidant activity.     

A Prosaposin-Derived Peptide Alleviates Kainic Acid-Induced Brain Injury

Four sphingolipid activator proteins (i.e., saposins A–D) are synthesized from a single precursor protein, prosaposin (PS), which exerts exogenous neurotrophic effects in vivo and in vitro. Kainic acid (KA) injection in rodents is a good model in which to study neurotrophic factor elevation; PS and its mRNA are increased in neurons and the choroid plexus in this animal model. An 18-mer peptide (LSELIINNATEELLIKGL; PS18) derived from the PS neurotrophic region prevents neuronal damage after ischemia, and PS18 is a potent candidate molecule for use in alleviating ischemia-induced learning disabilities and neuronal loss. KA is a glutamate analog that stimulates excitatory neurotransmitter release and induces ischemia-like neuronal degeneration; it has been used to define mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. In the present study, we demonstrate that a subcutaneous injection of 0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg PS18 significantly improved behavioral deficits of Wistar rats (n = 6 per group), and enhanced the survival of hippocampal and cortical neurons against neurotoxicity induced by 12 mg/kg KA compared with control animals. PS18 significantly protected hippocampal synapses against KA-induced destruction. To evaluate the extent of PS18- and KA-induced effects in these hippocampal regions, we performed histological evaluations using semithin sections stained with toluidine blue, as well as ordinal sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. We revealed a distinctive feature of KA-induced brain injury, which reportedly mimics ischemia, but affects a much wider area than ischemia-induced injury: KA induced neuronal degeneration not only in the CA1 region, where neurons degenerate following ischemia, but also in the CA2, CA3, and CA4 hippocampal regions.     

Resveratrol Protects Against Neurotoxicity Induced by Kainic Acid

Increased oxidative stress has been implicated in the mechanisms of excitotoxicity in hippocampus induced by kainic acid (KA), an excitatory glutamate receptor agonist. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic antioxidant compound enriched in grape, is regarded as an important ingredient in red wine to offer cardiovascular and neural protective effects. This study was designed to investigate whether resveratrol treatment may ameliorate neuronal death after KA administration. Adult Sprague Dawley male rats were treated with KA (8 mg/kg) daily for 5 days and another group was treated similarly with KA plus resveratrol (30 mg/kg/day). Three hr after the last treatment protocol, animals were sacrificed, and brain sections were obtained for histochemical and immunohistochemical identification of neurons, astrocytes and microglial cells. After KA administration, significant neuronal death and activation of astrocytes and microglial cells were observed in the hippocampal CA1, CA3 and polymorphic layer (hilar) of the dentate gyrus (DG) (P < 0.001). The KA-induced hippocampal neuronal damage was significantly attenuated by treatment with resveratrol (P < 0.001). Resveratrol also suppressed KA-induced activation of astrocytes and microglial cells. Since increased oxidative stress is a key factor for KA-induced neurotoxicity, this study demonstrated the ability of resveratrol to act as free radical scavenger to protect against neuronal damage caused by excitotoxic insults.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Lawrence F. Eng.     

Temporal expression of hippocampal lysophosphatidic acid receptors and their roles in kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity

In this investigation, the role of hippocampal lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptors in the regulation of kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity was investigated. KA (0.07 μg) intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration increased hippocampal Lpar1, 2, 3, and 5 mRNA levels. In the immunohistochemical study, alteration of LPA₁ or LPA₃ immunoreactivity was different depending on the hippocampal regions, such as CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus. In addition, the i.c.v. pretreatment with LPA₁ and LPA₃ antagonists, such as VPC12249 (0.05 μg) and VPC32183 (0.05 μg) attenuated KA-induced neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA3 region. However, the i.c.v. 18:1 LPA (0.05 μg) pretreatment aggravated KA-induced neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA3 region. Our results suggest that LPA receptors, such as LPA₁ and LPA₃ activation might play an important role in the regulation of KA-induced neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA3 region.     

Anti-oxidant effect of ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acids in hippocampal slice culture

Ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) have been shown to have protective effects as anti-oxidants in experimental neurological disorder models such as stroke, ischemia, and epileptic seizures. The present study was conducted to examine the protective effects of AA and DHA on kainic acid (KA) neurotoxicity using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. After 12 h KA treatment, significant delayed neuronal death was detected in the CA3, but not the CA1, region. Pretreatment with intermediate doses of AA and DHA significantly prevented cell death and inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the CA3 region. In contrast, pretreatment with low or high doses of AA or DHA was not effective. These data suggest that pretreatment with both AA and DHA has dose-dependent neuroprotective effects on KA-induced neuronal injury through inhibiting ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction.     

Role of α-CGRP in the regulation of neurotoxic responses induced by kainic acid in mice

Kainic acid (KA) is an excitatory and neurotoxic substance. The role of α-calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) in the regulation of KA-induced hippocampal neuronal cell death was investigated in the present study. The intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration with KA (0.07 μg) increased hippocampal α-CGRP mRNA level in ICR mice. The α-CGRP mRNA level began to increase at 1 h, reached at maximal level at 6 and 12 h, and returned to the control level by 24 h after i.c.v. administration with KA. In addition, KA-induced hippocampal CA3 neuronal death in C57BL6 (wild type) group was more pronounced compared to KA-induced hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cell death in α-CGRP knock-out (KO) group. Furthermore, sumatriptan, a CGRP releasing inhibitor, significantly protected the pyramidal cell death in CA3 hippocampal region induced by KA administered i.c.v. in ICR mice. Our results suggest that α-CGRP may play an important role in the regulation of KA-induced pyramidal cell death in CA3 region of the hippocampus.     

Changes in Polyamine Levels in Rat Brain After Systemic Kainic Acid Administration: Relationship to Convulsant Activity and Brain Damage

We have examined the effects of systemic kainic acid (KA) administration (9 mg/kg, i.p.) on rat behavior, brain damage, and polyamine levels and the action of the specific ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) on these effects. KA elicited convulsant activity in 63% of the animals. In the acute convulsant phase (1-3 h after KA), a rapid decline (-39% at 3 h) of spermidine content in frontal cortex was found. After the acute convulsant phase, levels of hippocampal spermidine and spermine were reduced (-70 and -66%, respectively, at 8 h). A dramatic increase of putrescine content (68.1, 1,382, and 336% at 8 h, 24 h, and 9 days, respectively, after KA) was found, associated with histological signs of cortical brain damage (ischemia and necrosis). There was a close relationship between the concentration of putrescine and signs of delayed toxicity (body weight losses) 24 h and 9 days after KA. DFMO partially antagonized the convulsant activity and reduced the increased putrescine levels to approximately 50% of values in KA-treated animals at 24 h but did not change the pattern of histological damage. The role of polyamines in the early and late phases of KA-induced neurotoxicity is discussed.     

Manganese complexes of curcumin and its derivatives: evaluation for the radical scavenging ability and neuroprotective activity

In this study, three manganese complexes of curcumin (Cp) and related compounds, diacetylcurcumin (AcylCp) and ethylenediamine derivative (CpED), were synthesized and evaluated in vitro for antilipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. The manganese complexes exhibited a great capacity to protect brain lipids against peroxidation with IC₅₀ of 6.3–26.3 μM. All manganese complexes showed much greater SOD activity than their corresponding antioxidant ligands as well as trolox with IC₅₀ values of 8.9–29.9 μM. AcylCp and curcumin manganese complexes (AcylCpCpx and CpCpx) also gave the highest inhibitory activity to H₂O₂-induced cell damage (oxidative stress) at 0.1 μg/ml (< 0.2 μM) in NG108-15 cells, which were more potent than curcumin and related compounds. The neuropharmacological tests in mice supported the idea that the SOD mimicking complexes were able to penetrate to the brain as well as their role in the modulation of brain neurotransmitters under the aberrant conditions. The complexes significantly improved the learning and memory impairment induced by transient ischemic/reperfusion. AcylCpCpx, CpCpx, and CpEDCpx showed significant protection at 6.25, 25, and 50 mg/kg (i.p.), respectively, whereas manganese acetate and curcumin had no effect at doses of 50 mg/kg. In addition, treatment of AcylCpCpx and curcumin significantly attenuated MPTP-induced striatal dopamine depletion in mice, which was in accordance with the increase in the density of dopaminergic neurons when compared with MPTP-treated mice. These results support the important role of manganese in importing SOD activity and consequently, the enhancement of radical scavenging activity. AcylCpCpx and CpCpx seem to be the most promising neuroprotective agents for vascular dementia.     

一氧化氮合酶抑制剂L-NAME对大鼠脑缺血耐受诱导的影响

采用大鼠四血管闭塞全脑缺血耐受模型和脑组织切片形态学方法,观察应用一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂L—NAME对大鼠海马CAl区脑缺血耐受(BIT)诱导的影响,在整体水平探讨一氧化氮(NO)在BIT诱导中的作用。54只Wistar大鼠凝闭双侧推动脉后分为6组：(1)假手术组(n＝6);分离双侧颈总动脉,但不阻断脑血流;(2)损伤性缺血组(n＝6)：全脑缺血10min;(3)预缺血 损伤性缺血组(n＝6)：脑缺血预处理(CIP)3min,再灌注72h后行全脑缺血10min;(4)L—NAME组;分别于CIP前1h和后1、12及36h腹腔注射L—NAME(5mg／kg),每个时间点6只动物,其余步骤同预缺血 损伤性缺血组;(5)L—NAME L—精氨酸组(n＝6)：于CIP前1h腹腔注射L—NAME(5mg／kg)和L—精氨酸(300mg／kg),其它步骤同L—NAME组;(6)L—NAME 损伤性缺血组(n＝6)：于腹腔注射L—NAME(5mg／kg)72h后行全脑缺血10min。实验结果表明,(1)单纯10min全脑缺血可使海马CAl区组织学分级增加(表明损伤加重),神经元密度降低(P＜0．01);(2)预缺血 损伤性缺血组的海马CAl区组织学分级、神经元密度与假手术组相比,无显著性差别(P＞0．05);(3)L—NAME组中,应用L—NAME后海马CAl区组织学分级增加,神经元密度降低,与预缺血 损伤性缺血组相比有显著性差异(P＜0．05),表明L—NAME可阻断CIP对神经元的保护作用;(4)L—NAME L—精氨酸组与L—NAME组相比,海马CAl区组织损伤明显减轻(P＜0．05),但与预缺血 损伤性缺血组相比仍有显著性差别(P＜0．05),提示L-精氨酸可部分逆转L—NAME的作用;(5)L—NAME 损伤性缺血组的组织学表现与损伤性缺血组相同(P＞0．05)。这些结果表明,在整体情况下N0参与BIT的诱导。与CIP前1h及后1、12h给予L—NAME组相比,CIP后36h给予L—NAME对CIP保护作用的阻断效应明显减弱,提示N0在CIP后较早阶段即开始参与BIT的诱导。     

Treatment with 7-nitroindazole enhances kainic acid induced cholinergic neurotoxicity in the rat striatum: a neuroprotective role for neuronal nitric oxide

1. In this study we investigated the effect of 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a preferential inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), on kainic acid (KA) induced neurotoxicity in rats. Choline acetyltransferase activity (CAT), a cholinergic marker, and histological changes were employed to assess neurotoxicity.2. In control rats, the local intrastriatal injection of 0.5 g of KA reduced CAT from 22.9 ± 2.2 to 14.7 ± 2.0 nmol/h/mg tissue ((38 ± 6)% reduction) (P < 0.001). Greater reductions in CAT were observed with 1 and 2 g of KA ((70 ± 6)% and (80 ± 3)%, respectively). 7-NI aggravated KA-induced cholinergic and histological damage. KA reduced CAT by (68.2 ± 4)% in 7-NI-treated rats, by (38 ± 6)% in saline-treated controls, and by (41 ± 4)% in peanut-oil- (7-NI-vehicle-) treated rats (P = 0.0047).3. After KA, CAT activity averaged 14.3 ± 2.0 in peanut-oil-treated rats and 7.9 ± 1.0 nmol/h/mg tissue in 7-NI- (peanut-oil-) treated rats (P = 0.015). Similarly to changes in CAT, 7-NI treatment aggravated KA-induced histological changes indicative of neuronal damage (acute ischemic neuronal changes, disorganization of myelinated fibers bundle, and vacuolation changes of the neuropil). Treatment with 7-NI was not associated with increased mortality.4. Our findings suggest that neuronal NO plays a neuroprotective action on excitotoxicity.     

Effect of nitric oxide on the somatostatinergic system in the rat exocrine pancreas

Nitric oxide (NO) and somatostatin (SS) are two important mediators of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas, exerting opposite effects on this organ. There is strong evidence suggesting an interaction between pancreatic NO and SS. The aim of this study was to determine whether L-arginine (L-Arg), the substrate for NO synthase (NOS), and Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a NOS inhibitor, regulate pancreatic somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SSLI) content and the SS mechanism of action in pancreatic acinar cell membranes. L-Arg (150 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)), L-NAME (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or L-NAME plus L-Arg were injected twice daily at 8 h intervals for 8 days. L-Arg decreased pancreatic SSLI content as well as the number of SS receptors in pancreatic acinar cell membranes whereas L-NAME increased both parameters. The stable SS analogue SMS 201-995 induced a significantly lower inhibition of forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in pancreatic acinar cell membranes from L-Arg-treated rats whereas an increased inhibition was observed in pancreatic acinar membranes from L-NAME-treated rats. These results indicate that the NO system may contribute to the regulation of the pancreatic somatostatinergic system.     

Immediate and Delayed Treatments with Curcumin Prevents Forebrain Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Damage and Oxidative Insult in the Rat Hippocampus

Oxidative stress is believed to contribute to neurodegeneration following ischemic injury. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible antioxidant neuroprotective effect of curcumin (Cur) on neuronal death of hippocampal CA1 neurons following transient forebrain ischemia in rat. Treatment of Cur (200 mg/kg/day, i.p.) at three different times (immediately, 3 h and 24 h after ischemia) significantly (P<0.01) reduced neuronal damage 7 days after ischemia. Also, treatment of ischemic rats with Cur decreased the elevated levels of MDA and increased GSH contents, catalase and SOD activities to normal levels. In the in vitro, Cur was as potent as antioxidant (IC₅₀ = 1 μM) as butylated hydroxytoluene. The present study demonstrates that curcumin treatment attenuates forebrain ischemia-induced neuronal injury and oxidative stress in hippocampal tissue. Thus treatment with curcumin immediately or even delayed until 24 h may have the potential to be used as a protective agent in forebrain ischemic insult in human.     

Involvement of monoamine oxidase inhibition in neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects of Ginkgo biloba extract against MPTP-induced nigrostriatal dopaminergic toxicity in C57 mice.

The present study investigated the neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) and its two components ginkgolides A (BN52020) and B (BN52021) in mice. 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (30 mg/kg/d i.p. for six days) significantly reduced striatal dopamine (DA) levels in C57 mice measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC). When C57 mice were pretreated with EGb 761 (20, 50, 100 mg/kg/d i.p.) for 7 days and then treated with the same extract 30 min before MPTP injection for 6 days, the neurotoxic effect of MPTP was antagonized in a dose-dependent fashion. Similar treatment with ginkgolides A and B (5, 10, 50 mg/kg/d i.p.) showed no protective effect. When C57 mice were treated with EGb 761 (50 mg/kg/d i.p.) after MPTP-lesion, the recovery of striatal dopamine (DA) levels was accelerated. However, similar treatment with ginkgolides A or B (10 mg/kg/d i.p.) did not show any effect. EGb 761, but not ginkgolides A and B, nonselectively inhibited mouse brain MAO activity in vitro (IC50 = 36.45 +/- 1.56 microg/ml) tested by an improved fluorimetric assay. The results demonstrate that EGb 761 administered before or after MPTP treatment effectively protects against MPTP-induced nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity and that the inhibitory effect of EGb 761 on brain MAO may be involved in its neuroprotective effect.     

海马mu型阿片肽受体介导大鼠癫痫发作敏感性形成

为探讨海马mu型阿片肽受体介导癫痫发作敏感性形成的作用,实验采用微渗透泵技术,观察大鼠腹侧海马注射mu型阿片肽受体激动剂PL017(2.09、2.59、3.29μg/μ1)、拮抗剂β-funaltrexamine hydrochloride(β-FNA、0.88、1.10、1.35μg/μl)对红藻氨酸(kainic acid,KA)诱导癫痫发作的干预作用.PL017能够明显缩短癫痫发作潜伏期、增加癫痫发作级别(P＜0.05),β-FNA则可显著延长癫痫发作潜伏期、降低发作级别(P＜0.01);PL017和β-FNA的干预作用均表现出剂量依赖效应.结果表明,海马mu型阿片肽受体具有促进KA诱导的癫痫发作敏感性形成作用.     

Calcium signal-initiated early activation of NF-κB in neurons is a neuroprotective event in response to kainic acid-induced excitotoxicity

We demonstrate that activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in neurons is neuroprotective in response to kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity. Combination of Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and electrophoresis mobility shift assay showed that KA exposure induced a fast but transient nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit and increased DNA-binding activity of NF-κB in primary cultured cortical neurons. The transient NF-κB activity was associated with upregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and XIAP gene products revealed by real-time PCR. Knockdown of p65 decreased neuronal viability and antiapoptotic gene expression. In addition, we showed that KA-stimulated DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was associated with reactive oxygen species and calcium signals, using AMPA/KA receptor antagonist, calcium chelator, and antioxidant. These results suggest that the fast and transient activation of NF-κB initiated by calcium signals is one of the important proximal events in response to KA-induced excitotoxicity, which has neuroprotective effect against KA-induced apoptosis.     

Dehydroevodiamine.HCl prevents impairment of learning and memory and neuronal loss in rat models of cognitive disturbance

We previously reported that dehydroevodiamine.HCl (DHED) has anticholinesterase and antiamnesic activities. To verify the effects of DHED on cognitive deficits further, we tested it on the scopolamine-induced amnesia model of the rat using the passive avoidance and eight-arm radial maze tests. A single (20 mg/kg p.o.) and repeated (10 mg/kg p.o.) administrations of DHED could significantly reverse the latency time shortened by scopolamine (1 mg/kg i.p.) to control level. The impaired spatial working memory induced by scopolamine (1 mg/kg i.p.) was also improved significantly by a single injection (6.25 mg/kg i.p.) and repeated administrations of DHED (10 mg/kg p.o.) in the eight-arm radial maze test. In addition, we examined the effects of DHED on the memory impairment and the histological changes of the brain after unilateral electrolytic lesion of the entorhinal cortex (EC) and middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. The cognitive deficits caused by EC lesion and middle cerebral artery occlusion were improved significantly by repeated administrations of DHED (6.25 mg/kg i.p.) after EC lesion or ischemic insult once a day for 7 days in the passive avoidance test. Histological analysis showed that the neuronal loss in the DHED-treated group was notably reduced in the hippocampal area (CA1) of ischemic rats and in the dentate gyrus and hippocampal area (CA1 and CA3) of EC-lesioned rats compared with the nontreated group. The infarction area was decreased significantly by a single administration of DHED (6.25 mg/kg i.p.) 30 min before ischemic insult for 6 h. These results suggest that DHED might be an effective drug for not only the Alzheimer's disease type, but also the vascular type of dementia.     

The effect of melatonin on lipid peroxidation and nitrite/nitrate levels, and on superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in kainic acid-induced injury

Kainic acid (KA) initiates neuronal injury and death by inducing oxidative stress and nitric oxide release from various regions of the brain. It was recently shown that melatonin has free radical-scavenging action and may protect against kainate-induced toxicity. In order to assess the possible supportive effect of melatonin treatment in KA-induced injury in the rat brain cortex, we determined malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an index of lipid peroxidation, and assessed the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levels of nitrite/nitrate 35 male rats were divided into five groups, each receiving a different intraperitoneal treatment: saline solution (0.2 ml), kainic acid (15 mg/kg), melatonin (20 mg/kg), KA then melatonin (each as above, 15 min apart), or melatonin then KA (each as above, 30 min apart). Administration of KA caused an about five-fold increase in the catalase activity and an increase in the SOD activity in the cortex relative to the activities for the controls. Treatment with melatonin 15 min after KA injection kept malondialdehyde levels and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities at the normal levels, and led to an increase in the levels of nitrite/nitrate. Our data suggests that melatonin treatment following KA administration has a protective effect on antioxidant enzyme activities and thus supports the role of melatonin and oxidative stress in the regulation of antioxidative enzyme activity.