The pattern of hippocampal neuronal, LTP and unilateral labyrinthectomy in male rats: the role of exercise and curcumin

A wide range of cognitive disorders, long-term potentiation (LTP) disorders, and biochemical changes have been reported in labyrinthectomy situations in the hippocampus of rodents. In order to investigate whether exercise and/or curcumin induce LTP and increase neurons in the hippocampus of unilateral labyrinthectomy male rats, after undergoing labyrinthectomy, animals were subjected to treadmill exercises after the intraperitoneal injection of curcumin five days per week, for 30 days. An increase of LTP and neuron count of the hippocampus was observed in unilateral labyrinthectomy rats. Interestingly the combination of exercise and curcumin did not enhance LTP in unilateral labyrinthectomy rats. These findings demonstrated that treadmill exercise and curcumin individually, significantly affect reinforcement of many of the pathological processes playing a role in increasing memory in unilateral labyrinthectomy situations.

OXIDATIVE STRESS IS MARKEDLY REDUCED BY COMBINED VOLUNTARY EXERCISE AND TESTOSTERONE IN THE HEART OF DIABETIC RATS

Objective

Cardiovascular disorders in diabetes condition arise from increased oxidative stress. Both regular mild exercise and testosterone influence on body's antioxidant system in diabetes. In this study, we evaluated treatment of testosterone and voluntary exercise, alone or together on oxidative stress in the heart and blood of diabetic rats.

Methods

Type 1 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin in rats. Sixty three rats have been divided into eight groups as follows: Diabetes, diabetes+ testosterone, diabetes+ exercise, diabetes+ testosterone+ exercise, diabetes+ castration, diabetes+ castration+ testosterone, Diabetes+ castration+ exercise, Diabetes+ castration+ exercise+ testosterone. Type 1 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin in the male Wistar rats and after a week, castration was performed. After 42 days of treatment with testosterone (2 mg/kg/day) or voluntary exercise alone or in combination, SOD, GPX and CAT activities and MDA levels were measured in the blood and heart tissue samples in the groups of study. In the end of study, SOD, GPX and CAT activities and MDA levels were measured in blood and heart tissue samples in the groups of study.

Results

SOD, GPX and CAT activities significantly (p<0.05) increased in groups that treated either testosterone or exercise and MDA level significantly (p<0.01) decreased in the blood and heart tissue of diabetic and castrated diabetic rats. Simultaneously, treatment with testosterone and exercise had a synergistic effect on antioxidant enzymes level in diabetic and diabetic castrated rats. In the castrated animals with diabetes, SOD, GPX and CAT activities significantly decreased (p<0.05) and MDA levels significantly increased (p<0.05) in blood and heart tissue.

Conclusion

Voluntary exercise and testosterone alone or together heightened body's antioxidant system and were able to reduce the MDA levels in blood and heart of diabetic and castrated diabetic rats.

Protective effects of curcumin against rotenone-induced rat model of Parkinson's disease: in vivo electrophysiological and behavioral study

Curcumin is a naturally occurring phenolic yellow chemical isolated from the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa (turmeric), and is a major component of the spice turmeric. Curcumin has protective effects against rotenone-induced neural damage in Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study aims at providing new evidence for the validity of the rotenone rat model of PD by examining whether neuronal activity in the hippocampus is altered. Male albino rats were treated with rotenone injections (2.5 mg/ml intraperitoneally) for 21 days. We examined the effects of curcumin (200 mg/kg) on behavior and electrophysiology in a rat model of PD induced by rotenone. Motor activity was assessed by cylinder test. The electrical activity of neurons was measured in hippocampus. Rotenone causes significant reduction of neuronal activity. The results show that curcumin can improve the motor impairments and electrophysiological parameters and may be beneficial in the treatment of PD.

Physiological dose of lycopene suppressed oxidative stress and enhanced serum levels of immunoglobulin M in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a possible role in the prevention of long-term complications

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant effects of lycopene in physiological doses and its possible effects on the immune response in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 35 patients with T2DM of both sexes aged 54+/-9 yr were enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted for 2 months. After a 2-week lycopene-free diet washout period, patients were allocated to either lycopene supplementation group (10 mg/day) (no.=16) or placebo group (no.=19), which were age- and sex matched. Patients were instructed to keep their diet and physical activity as unchanged as possible.

RESULTS

While dietary intake of energy and body weight did not change, the ratio of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) to malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly in the lycopene group compared to the placebo group (p=0.007). Though a statistically significant increase in serum concentrations of lycopene (p<0.001) was not accompanied by enhanced delayed-type hypersensitivity response, a significant negative correlation was found between serum levels of lycopene and immunoglobulin (Ig)G (r=-0.338, p=0.008). Interestingly, variations of serum levels of lycopene directly correlated with those of IgM (r=0.466, p=0.005). There was an insignificant decrement in serum anti-oxidized LDL IgG levels in the lycopene group.

CONCLUSIONS

Lycopene, probably by increasing TAC and inhibiting MDA-LDL formation, may attenuate T cell-dependent adaptive (pro-atherogenic) immune response. Meanwhile, with enhancement of innate immunity and hence prevention of ox-LDL uptake by macrophage and foam cell formation, lycopene may be effective in prevention of long-term diabetic complications, notably cardiovascular disease.