curcumin and 3-acetylpyridine

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.. 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.. 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.. 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.. the present study implies that curcumin might have neuroprotective effects to counteract neurotoxicity of 3-AP-induced ataxia.

Topics: Animals; Atrophy; Cerebellar Ataxia; Cerebellum; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Electromyography; Male; Motor Activity; Neuroprotective Agents; Purkinje Cells; Pyridines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley