Cerebrolysin potentiates the antidepressant effect of lithium in a rat model of depression.

RATIONALE: Depression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder worldwide. Although numerous antidepressant treatments are available, there is a serious clinical concern due to their severe side effects and the fact that some depressed patients are resistant to them. Lithium is the drug of choice for bipolar depression and has been used as adjunct therapy with other groups of antidepressants. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate the effect of lithium augmentation with cerebrolysin on the neurochemical, behavioral and histopathological alterations induced in the reserpine model of depression. METHODS: The animals were divided into control and reserpine-induced model of depression. The model animals were further divided into rat model of depression, rat model treated with lithium, rat model treated with cerebrolysin and rat model treated with a combination of lithium and cerebrolysin. RESULTS: Treatment with lithium, cerebrolysin, or their combination alleviated most of the changes in behavior, oxidative stress parameters, acetylcholinesterase and monoamines in the cortex and hippocampus of the reserpine-induced model of depression. It also improved the alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and histopathology induced by reserpine. CONCLUSIONS: The augmentation of lithium with cerebrolysin showed a clear beneficial effect in the present model of depression suggesting the use of cerebrolysin as an adjuvant in antidepressant treatment.

Long-term serotonin abnormalities in the brain of immature rats subjected to febrile seizures.

Objectives: Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common neurological disorder at a young age in humans. Animal models of hyperthermia-induced seizures provide a tool to investigate the underlying mechanisms of FS related to epilepsy development and its co-morbidities. The present study investigates the alterations in monoamine neurotransmitters in two brain areas: the cortex and the hippo-campus in animals subjected to prolonged FS at their immature age. Materials and Methods: Experimental animals were divided into three groups: cage-control group (NHT-NFS), positive hyperthermic control group (HT-NFS), and the hyperthermia-induced febrile seizure group (HT-FS). Each group was further subdivided into young (Y) and adult (A) groups. Results: There were significant changes in the cortical and hippocampal serotonin neurotransmitters that were persistent until adulthood. However, the changes in the two other neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and dopamine, were transient and have been recovered in adulthood. Conclusion: The present study sheds more light on the importance of monoamine neurotransmitters in epileptogenesis following FS.

Evaluation of the therapeutic potential of cerebrolysin and/or lithium in the male Wistar rat model of Parkinson's disease induced by reserpine.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide and represents a challenge for clinicians. The present study aims to investigate the effects of cerebrolysin and/or lithium on the behavioral, neurochemical and histopathological alterations induced by reserpine as a model of PD. The rats were divided into control and reserpine-induced PD model groups. The model animals were further divided into four subgroups: rat PD model, rat PD model treated with cerebrolysin, rat PD model treated with lithium and rat PD model treated with a combination of cerebrolysin and lithium. Treatment with cerebrolysin and/or lithium ameliorated most of the alterations in oxidative stress parameters, acetylcholinesterase and monoamines in the striatum and midbrain of reserpine-induced PD model. It also ameliorated the changes in nuclear factor-kappa and improved the histopathological picture induced by reserpine. It could be suggested that cerebrolysin and/or lithium showed promising therapeutic potential against the variations induced in the reserpine model of PD. However, the ameliorating effects of lithium on the neurochemical, histopathological and behavioral alterations induced by reserpine were more prominent than those of cerebrolysin alone or combined with lithium. It can be concluded that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of both drugs played a significant role in their therapeutic potency.

The chronic effect of pulsed 1800 MHz electromagnetic radiation on amino acid neurotransmitters in three different areas of juvenile and young adult rat brain.

The extensive use of mobile phones worldwide has raised increasing concerns about the effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on the brain due to the proximity of the mobile phone to the head and the appearance of several adverse neurological effects after mobile phone use. It has been hypothesized that the EMR-induced neurological effects may be mediated by amino acid neurotransmitters. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of EMR (frequency 1800 MHz, specific absorption rate 0.843 W/kg, power density 0.02 mW/cm2, modulated at 217 Hz) on the concentrations of amino acid neurotransmitters (glutamic acid, aspartic acid, gamma aminobutyric acid, glycine, taurine, and the amide glutamine) in the hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus of juvenile and young adult rats. The juvenile and young adult animals were each divided into two groups: control rats and rats exposed to EMR 1 h daily for 1, 2, and 4 months. A subgroup of rats were exposed daily to EMR for 4 months and then left without exposure for 1 month to study the recovery from EMR exposure. Amino acid neurotransmitters were measured in the hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus using high-performance liquid chromatography. Exposure to EMR induced significant changes in amino acid neurotransmitters in the studied brain areas of juvenile and young adult rats, being more prominent in juvenile animals. It could be concluded that the alterations in amino acid neurotransmitters induced by EMR exposure of juvenile and young adult rats may underlie many of the neurological effects reported after EMR exposure including cognitive and memory impairment and sleep disorders. Some of these effects may persist for some time after stopping exposure.

The antioxidant effect of Green Tea Mega EGCG against electromagnetic radiation-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus and striatum of rats.

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of cellular phones may affect biological systems by increasing free radicals and changing the antioxidant defense systems of tissues, eventually leading to oxidative stress. Green tea has recently attracted significant attention due to its health benefits in a variety of disorders, ranging from cancer to weight loss. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of EMR (frequency 900 MHz modulated at 217 Hz, power density 0.02 mW/cm2, SAR 1.245 W/kg) on different oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus and striatum of adult rats. This study also extends to evaluate the therapeutic effect of green tea mega EGCG on the previous parameters in animals exposed to EMR after and during EMR exposure. The experimental animals were divided into four groups: EMR-exposed animals, animals treated with green tea mega EGCG after 2 months of EMR exposure, animals treated with green tea mega EGCG during EMR exposure and control animals. EMR exposure resulted in oxidative stress in the hippocampus and striatum as evident from the disturbances in oxidant and antioxidant parameters. Co-administration of green tea mega EGCG at the beginning of EMR exposure for 2 and 3 months had more beneficial effect against EMR-induced oxidative stress than oral administration of green tea mega EGCG after 2 months of exposure. This recommends the use of green tea before any stressor to attenuate the state of oxidative stress and stimulate the antioxidant mechanism of the brain.

Nigella sativa amliorates inflammation and demyelination in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced Wistar rats.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the major, immune-mediated, demyelinating neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-established animal model of MS. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective and ameliorative effects of N. sativa seeds (2.8 g/kg body weight) in EAE-induced Wistar rats. EAE-induced rats were divided into: 1- EAE-induced rats ("EAE" group). 2- "N. sativa + EAE" group received daily oral administration of N. sativa 2 weeks prior EAE induction until the end of the experiment. 3- "EAE + N. sativa" group received daily oral administration of N. sativa after the appearance of first clinical signs until the end of the experiment. All animals were decapitated at the 28th day post EAE-induction. EAE was investigated using histopathological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations in addition to determination of some oxidative stress parameters in the cerebellum and medulla. N. sativa suppressed inflammation observed in EAE-induced rats. In addition, N. sativa enhanced remyelination in the cerebellum. Moreover, N. sativa reduced the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF ß1). N. sativa seeds could provide a promising agent effective in both the protection and treatment of EAE.

A miniature microdrive for recording auditory evoked potentials from awake anurans.

Electrical activity recording from the brains of awake animals is a corner stone in the study of the neurophysiological basis of behavior. To meet this need, a microelectrode driver suitable for the animal of interest has to be developed. In the present study a miniature microdrive was developed specifically for the leopard toad, Bufo regularis, however, it can be used for other small animals. The microdrive was designed to meet the following requirements: small size, light weight, simple and easy way of attaching and removing, advancing and withdrawing of microelectrode in the animal brain without rotation, can be reused and made from inexpensive materials. To assess the performance of the developed microdrive, we recorded auditory evoked potentials from different auditory centers in the toad's brain. The potentials were obtained from mesencephalic, diencephalic and telencephalic auditory sensitive areas in response to simple and complex acoustic stimuli. The synthetic acoustical tones introduced to the toad were carrying the dominant frequencies of their mating calls.

Non-thermal continuous and modulated electromagnetic radiation fields effects on sleep EEG of rats.

In the present study, the alteration in the sleep EEG in rats due to chronic exposure to low-level non-thermal electromagnetic radiation was investigated. Two types of radiation fields were used; 900 MHz unmodulated wave and 900 MHz modulated at 8 and 16 Hz waves. Animals has exposed to radiation fields for 1 month (1 h/day). EEG power spectral analyses of exposed and control animals during slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) revealed that the REM sleep is more susceptible to modulated radiofrequency radiation fields (RFR) than the SWS. The latency of REM sleep increased due to radiation exposure indicating a change in the ultradian rhythm of normal sleep cycles. The cumulative and irreversible effect of radiation exposure was proposed and the interaction of the extremely low frequency radiation with the similar EEG frequencies was suggested.