Search results for "Neuroprotective agent"

Neuroprotective potential of Ginkgo biloba in retinal diseases

2019

AbstractLike other tissues of the central nervous system, the retina is susceptible to damage by oxidative processes that result in several neurodegenerative disease such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, ischaemic retinal disease, retinal disease produced by light oxidation, and detached retina, among other diseases. The use of antioxidant substances is a solution to some health problems caused by oxidative stress, because they regulate redox homeostasis and reduce oxidative stress. This is important for neurodegeneration linked to oxidation processes. In line with this, Ginkgo biloba is a medicinal plant with excellent antioxidant properties whose effect…

AAV Vector–mediated RNAi of Mutant Huntingtin Expression Is Neuroprotective in a Novel Genetic Rat Model of Huntington's Disease

2008

We report the characterization of a new rapid-onset model of Huntington's disease (HD) generated by adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector–mediated gene transfer of N-terminal huntingtin (htt) constructs into the rat striatum. Expression of exon 1 of mutant htt containing 70 CAG repeats rapidly led to neuropathological features associated with HD. In addition, we report novel data relating to neuronal transduction of AAV vectors that modulated the phenotype observed in this model. Quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) revealed that AAV vector–mediated expression in the striatum increased by >100-fold as compared to the endogenous htt level. Moreover, AAV vectors…

Phenothiazines interfere with dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans models of Parkinson's disease

2010

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative disorders, conventional antioxidant strategies have yet been of limited success. We have employed transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans expressing DsRed2 in dopaminergic neurons and CFP pan-neuronally, to characterize in larval and adult animals the effects of rotenone and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP(+)) on the dopaminergic system. Investigating the antioxidant phenothiazine and different derived antipsychotic drugs, it was found that free phenothiazine exerted strong neuroprotection at the cellular level and resulted in a better performance in behavioral assays, whereas apomorphine and other dopamine agonists o…

Lead optimization of pyrazolo[1,2-a]-benzo-[1,2,3,4]-tetrazin-3-one nucleus to increase the biological properties as anticancer compounds

Subventricular zone neural progenitors protect striatal neurons from glutamatergic excitotoxicity.

2012

The functional significance of adult neural stem and progenitor cells in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory has been well documented. Although adult neural stem and progenitor cells in the subventricular zone are known to migrate to, maintain and reorganize the olfactory bulb, it is less clear whether they are functionally required for other processes. Using a conditional transgenic mouse model, selective ablation of adult neural stem and progenitor cells in the subventricular zone induced a dramatic increase in morbidity and mortality of central nervous system disorders characterized by excitotoxicity-induced cell death accompanied by reactive inflammation, such as 4-aminopyridine-i…

Neuroprotection elicited by P2Y13 receptors against genotoxic stress by inducing DUSP2 expression and MAPK signaling recovery.

2014

AbstractNucleotides activating P2Y13 receptors display neuroprotective actions against different apoptotic stimuli in cerebellar granule neurons. In the present study, P2Y13 neuroprotection was analyzed in conditions of genotoxic stress. Exposure to cisplatin and UV radiation induced caspase-3-dependent apoptotic cell death, and p38 MAPK signaling de-regulation. Pre-treatment with P2Y13 nucleotide agonist, 2methyl-thio-ADP (2MeSADP), restored granule neuron survival and prevented p38 long-lasting activation induced by cytotoxic treatments. Microarray gene expression analysis in 2MeSADP-stimulated cells revealed over-representation of genes related to protein phosphatase activity. Among them…

Neuroprotective action of diazepam at very low and moderate doses in Alzheimer's disease model rats

2018

Abstract Early manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD) include neuroinflammation, disrupted neurotransmission and cognitive deficits. Impairment of the GABAergic system is essentially involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Traditionally, agonists of GABAA receptors at doses above 1 mg/kg are known to possess memory impairing effects. However, we have previously found that GABAA receptor GABA site ligand muscimol at very low doses acted contrary – enhanced spatial learning/memory, as well as prevented neuroinflammation and augmented neurotransmission in AD model rats. Therefore, in the present study we focused on the assessment of the effects of non-sedative – very low (0.05 mg/kg) and moder…

Comparison of speed-vacuum method and heat-drying method to measure brain water content of small brain samples

2016

Abstract Background A reliable measurement of brain water content (wet-to-dry ratio) is an important prerequisite for conducting research on mechanisms of brain edema formation. The conventionally used oven-drying method suffers from several limitations, especially in small samples. A technically demanding and time-consuming alternative is freeze-drying. New method Centrifugal vacuum concentrators (e.g. SpeedVac/speed-vacuum drying) are a combination of vacuum-drying and centrifugation, used to reduce the boiling temperature. These concentrators have the key advantages of improving the freeze-drying speed and maintaining the integrity of dried samples, thus, allowing e.g. DNA analyses. In t…

Molecular mechanisms mediating the neuroprotective role of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, in acute ischemic stroke: A compa…

2017

As the knowledge on the estrogenic system in the brain grows, the possibilities to modulate it in order to afford further neuroprotection in brain damaging disorders so do it. We have previously demonstrated the ability of the selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene (BZA), to reduce experimental ischemic brain damage. The present study has been designed to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in such a neuroprotective action by investigating: 1) stroke-induced apoptotic cell death; 2) expression of estrogen receptors (ER) ERα, ERβ and the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER); and 3) modulation of MAPK/ ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. For comparison, …

Protective effects of mirtazapine in mice lacking the Mbnl2 gene in forebrain glutamatergic neurons: Relevance for myotonic dystrophy 1

2019

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder characterized by muscle weakness and wasting and by important central nervous system-related symptoms including impairments in executive functions, spatial abilities and increased anxiety and depression. The Mbnl2 gene has been implicated in several phenotypes consistent with DM1 neuropathology. In this study, we developed a tissue-specific knockout mouse model lacking the Mbnl2 gene in forebrain glutamatergic neurons to examine its specific contribution to the neurobiological perturbations related to DM1. We found that these mice exhibit long-term cognitive deficits and a depressive-like state associated with neuronal loss, increa…