RESUMO
Background: This study evaluated the antioxidant effects of Resveratrol on stress-induced neuronal loss in ratbrain involving brain glutathione system.Materials and Methods: The control rats received vehicle while another set of rats received 21 days restraintstress. The third and fourth group received similar intensity of restraint stress as well as either 10 or 20mg/kgdose of resveratrol respectively. The cognitive test included passive avoidance test. This was followed by estimationof reduced glutathione and glutathione reductase enzyme levels in brain homogenate and histomorphologicalstudy of hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex.Results: Restraint stress has resulted in poor retrieval of learning behaviour and resveratrol has enhancedretrieval of learning behaviour in stressed condition in passive avoidance task. Both reduced glutathione andglutathione reductase levels were reduced after restraint stress and resveratrol at both the doses has normalizedtheir levels. Restraint stress has affected CA3, CA2 and dentate regions of the hippocampus and also medialprefrontal cortex. In all these areas resveratrol has minimized neuronal loss which were due to chronic stress.Conclusion: From the results of the present study we conclude that stress induced oxidative damage involvesbrain glutathione system and which in turn could be one of the causes for neuronal loss and resveratrol suggeststo protect the brain against stress in rat model.