Effect of cerebrolysin on the cerebellum of diabetic rats: An imunohistochemical study

Background

Diabetes mellitus represents one of the disorders in the metabolism that affects all body systems including CNS. Cerebrolysin contains many neurotrophic factors, and many studies reported that it can be used treatment of many neurological disorders.

Aim of the work

The aim of the current study was to study the potential neuroprotective effect of cerebrolysin on the cerebellum of diabetic rat.

Materials and methods

Sprague Dawley male rats were divided randomly into four groups: control, cerebrolysin (Cbl), diabetes and diabetes treated with Cbl groups. Induction of diabetes was performed by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin once. Eight weeks later, the rats were anaesthetized, sacrificed and the cerebellum was removed. Cerebellum oxidative stress markers were analysis. Cerebellar tissue was subjected to histolopathological examination and immune-histological assessment of GFAP and Synaptophysin.

Results

As compared to the control group, diabetes caused degenerative changes in the cerebellum with significant elevation of MDA and decrease of SOD levels and gliosis confirmed by increase the GFAP expression area fraction. Diabetes increased significantly the optical density of synaptophysin expression with increase in its area fraction in the granular layer. Although Cbl treatment succeeded in minimizing the changes in the oxidative stress markers, it had no effect on pathological changes of the diabetic cerebellum. Cerebrolysin treatment of diabetic rats decreased the area fraction of GFAP positive immunoreactivity and had no effect on synaptophysin expression.

Conclusion

Cerebrolysin can potentially protect against diabetes induced changes in the cerebellum through minimizing the oxidative stress and improving the gliosis.