curcumin and Peripheral-Nerve-Injuries

The purpose of this study was to analyze the axonal regeneration and therapeutic effects of curcumin and blueberry administration following peripheral nerve injury using stereological, electron microscopic and electrophysiological methods. Animals in were assigned into one of four groups - control (Cont), injury (Inj), injury+curcumin (Cur) and injury+blueberry (Blue). Following the induction of sciatic nerve crush injury (75 Newtons for 5 s) in the Inj, Cur, and Blue groups, the rats in the Cur group received intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg curcumin (Sigma C1386) and the rats in the Blue group received 4 g/kg blueberry by gavage over a four-week period. The rats in the Cont and Inj groups were not exposed to any substance. All animals were given standard chow. Sciatic functional index analyses were performed on the 14th and 28th days after injury, and electromyography (EMG) results were recorded. Stereological analysis of the nerve was performed under light microscopy. Light and electron microscopies were used for the histopathological evaluation of the sciatic nerve. Analysis of myelinated axon numbers revealed no significant differences between the Inj group and the Cur and Blue groups. However, a significant difference was observed between the Blue and Inj groups in terms of axonal areas. EMG test results differed between the Blue and the Inj groups (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the Inj and Cur groups. Electron microscopic analysis revealed protective effects of curcumin and blueberry treatment after injury. The use of the curcumin and blueberry may represent a supportive approach to the protection of nerve fibers after peripheral nerve crush injury.

Topics: Animals; Blueberry Plants; Crush Injuries; Curcumin; Nerve Regeneration; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Rats; Sciatic Nerve

We generated a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury and characterized the effects of curcumin on sciatic nerve recovery by using behavioral experiments, hematoxylin-eosin staining, toluidine blue staining, and immunohistochemical. Proteomic analysis using tandem mass tagging was performed to determine differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and GO and KEGG pathway analyses of overlapping DEPs was conducted, following which, qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were further performed to validate the proteins of interest. Finally, a Schwann cell injury model was used to verify the effect of curcumin on potential targets. The rat model was successfully established and curcumin improved the sciatic nerve function index of rats with sciatic nerve injury (SNI) and increased the number and diameter of myelinated axons in the sciatic nerve. In the Sham group versus the Injured group and in the Injured group versus the Curcumin group, we identified a total of 4,175 proteins, of which 953 were DEPs, and 218 were known overlapping DEPs. Ten associated pathways, such as calcium signaling pathway, biosynthesis of antibiotics, and long-term potentiation, were identified. The 218 overlapping DEPs were primarily involved in negative regulation of apoptotic process, biological processes, cytoplasm cellular component, and protein binding molecular function based on GO annotation. Curcumin promoted increased expression of ApoD and inhibited the expression of Cyba in vivo and in vitro. These results indicated that curcumin promoted sciatic nerve repair through regulation of various proteins, targets, and pathways. Cyba and ApoD may be potential targets of curcumin in the treatment of SNI.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Curcumin; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Hematoxylin; Nerve Crush; Nerve Regeneration; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Proteomics; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sciatic Nerve; Sciatic Neuropathy; Tolonium Chloride

Curcumin has immunomodulatory anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of curcumin and biodegradable membrane on nerve healing in rat sciatic nerve transected injuries.. Rats were divided into groups: (1) control group (Ctrl), (2) curcumin group (Cur), (3) membrane group (Mem), and (4) membrane and curcumin group (Mem + Cur). Functional recovery was evaluated at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. At the end of the eighth week after surgery, histological assessments were done.. At the end of 8th week after surgery, functional assessments (sciatic nerve index, withdrawal reflex latency, and electromyography) in the Mem + Cur group improved compared with other groups (P < 0.05). Histological results (number of nerve fibers, diameter of nerve fibers, and myelin thickness) improved in the Mem + Cur group compared with the control, Cur, and Mem groups (P < 0.05).. The present study showed the positive effects of Mem + Cur on nerve regeneration of transected sciatic nerve in rat model.

Topics: Absorbable Implants; Animals; Chitosan; Curcumin; Electromyography; Male; Membranes; Nerve Regeneration; Neuroprotective Agents; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Polyethylene Glycols; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Recovery of Function; Sciatic Nerve; Treatment Outcome

Curcumin is capable of promoting peripheral nerve regeneration in normal condition. However, it is unclear whether its beneficial effect on nerve regeneration still exists under diabetic mellitus. The present study was designed to investigate such a possibility. Diabetes in rats was developed by a single dose of streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg. Immediately after nerve crush injury, the diabetic rats were intraperitoneally administrated daily for 4 weeks with curcumin (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg), or normal saline, respectively. The axonal regeneration was investigated by morphometric analysis and retrograde labeling. The functional recovery was evaluated by electrophysiological studies and behavioral analysis. Axonal regeneration and functional recovery was significantly enhanced by curcumin, which were significantly better than those in vehicle saline group. In addition, high doses of curcumin (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) achieved better axonal regeneration and functional recovery than low dose (50 mg/kg). In conclusion, curcumin is capable of promoting nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve crush injury in diabetes mellitus, highlighting its therapeutic values as a neuroprotective agent for peripheral nerve injury repair in diabetes mellitus.

Topics: Animals; Axons; Curcumin; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Male; Nerve Regeneration; Neuroprotective Agents; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sciatic Nerve

Propolis and curcumin have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective features. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of propolis and curcumin on nerve healing in rat sciatic nerve crush injuries and to compare these effects with results obtained using steroid treatment.. In the sham group, the right sciatic nerves of rats were dissected and exposed, and the skin was closed without any additional manipulation. In the control group (group C), after the right sciatic nerves of rats were exposed, crush damage was inflicted using a surgical clamp. In the control-methylprednisolone group, crush injuries were inflicted on sciatic nerves as in group C. After injury, 1-mg/kg methylprednisolone was administered daily for 6 days and was then tapered for 4 days. In the curcumin group, crush injuries were inflicted on sciatic nerves as in group C. Then, 100-mg/kg curcumin was given every day. In the propolis group, crush injuries were inflicted on sciatic nerves as in group C. Then, 200-mg/kg propolis was given every day. Rats were evaluated after 28 days using functional (walking track analysis and electrophysiological measurements), histomorphometric, electron microscopic, and muscle weight measurements.. Compared to the control groups, the curcumin and propolis groups had better functional (walking track analysis and electrophysiological) results after experimental peripheral nerve crush injury.. Curcumin and propolis, 2 traditional drugs, had a positive effect on nerve crush injuries. We are convinced that they can be used to support routine treatment in such nerve injuries.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Curcumin; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Methylprednisolone; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Propolis; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Recovery of Function; Sciatic Nerve; Wound Healing

Comorbid depression is commonly observed in individuals who suffer from neuropathic pain, which necessitates improved treatment. Curcumin, a phenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, possesses both antinociceptive and antidepressant-like activities in animal studies, suggesting its possible usefulness in treating this comorbidity.. We investigated the effect of curcumin on depressive-like behaviors in mice with mononeuropathy, and explored the mechanism(s).. Chronic constriction injury (CCI) was produced by loosely ligating the sciatic nerves in mice. The nociceptive behaviors were examined using Hargreaves test, and the depressive-like behaviors were determined by forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST).. After CCI injury, the neuropathic mice developed nociceptive and depressive-like behaviors, as shown by thermal hyperalgesia in Hargreaves test and protracted immobility time in FST and TST. Chronic treatment of neuropathic mice with curcumin (45 mg/kg, p.o., twice per day for 3 weeks) corrected their exacerbated nociceptive and depressive-like behaviors, which was abolished by chemical depletion of brain serotonin rather than noradrenaline. The paralleled antinociceptive and antidepressant-like actions of curcumin seem to be pharmacologically segregated, since intrathecal and intracerebroventricular injection of methysergide, a nonselective 5-HT receptor antagonist, separately counteracted the two actions of curcumin. Further, this antidepression was abrogated by repeated co-treatment with 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 and greatly attenuated by acute co-treatment with GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline.. Curcumin can normalize the depressive-like behaviors of neuropathic mice, which may be independent of the concurrent analgesic action and possibly mediated via the supraspinal serotonergic system and downstream GABAA receptor.

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Curcumin; Depression; Hippocampus; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mononeuropathies; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Prefrontal Cortex; Receptors, GABA-A; Serotonin; Swimming

The objective was to assess the effect of locally administered curcumin on peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Thirty male healthy white Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: In control group (CG), the left sciatic nerve was exposed and transected proximal to tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10-mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube and filled with 10 μL sterilized olive oil. In treatment group (TG), the graft was filled with 10 μL curcumin (5 mg/mL) solved in olive oil. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and regenerated nerve fibers were studied 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. Behavioral testing, sciatic nerve functional study, static sciatic index (SSI), gastrocnemius muscle mass and morphometric indices confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in TG than CG group (p < 0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in TG was clearly more positive than that in CG group. When loaded in a silicone tube, curcumin improved functional recovery and morphometric indices of sciatic nerve. Curcumin is readily available and its local application is easily performed without limitations of its poor bioavailability in systemic administration.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Curcumin; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Nerve Regeneration; Organ Size; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sciatic Nerve; Silicones

The goal of this study was to quantify the histological changes in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the sciatic nerve in rats subjected to sciatic nerve crush (SNC) following curcumin treatment. The rats were divided into four groups, each including five animals, and underwent the following intervention: group I: control animals which received olive oil; group II: sham-operated animals whose skin of the posterior thigh was opened, sutured, and received the vehicle; group III: SNC animals which received the vehicle; and group IV: SNC plus curcumin (100 mg/kg/day) solved in the vehicle. On the 28th day, the fifth lumbar DRG and sciatic nerve were removed. Volume of the ganglion, mean cell volume, total volume of DRG cells (A- and B-cells), and total surface of DRG cells, total number, diameter, and area of the myelinated nerve fibers were estimated using stereological methods. Except for the volume of the ganglion, all other parameters were decreased after nerve crush. In curcumin-treated rats, these parameters decreased, but to a lesser extent, and the values were significantly higher than in the non-treated SNC group (p<0.04). It can be concluded that in rats after crush, curcumin has a protective effect on the DRG and sciatic nerve.

Topics: Animals; Cranial Nerve Injuries; Curcumin; Disease Models, Animal; Ganglia, Spinal; Male; Nerve Crush; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; Neuroprotective Agents; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sciatic Nerve