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Neonatal anoxia is linked to long-lasting neurodevelopmental deficits. Due to the lack of pharmacological intervention to treat neonatal anoxia, there is interest in finding new molecules for its treatment. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) has shown neuroprotective effects in some disease conditions. However, the neuroprotective role of I3C in neonatal anoxia has not been explored. Consequently, we have investigated the effect of I3C on neonatal anoxia-induced brain injury and neurodevelopmental deficits. Rat pups after 30 h of birth were subjected to two episodes of anoxia (10 min in each) at a time interval of 24 h by flowing 100% nitrogen. I3C was administered within 30 min of the second episode of anoxia on a postnatal day (PND) 3 and continued for PND 9. Neurodevelopmental deficits, cortical mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), electron transport chain (ETC) enzyme activities, oxidative stress, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) levels, histopathological changes, and apoptosis were measured. I3C treatment dose-dependently ameliorated the neurodevelopmental deficits and somatic growth in anoxic pups. I3C improved mitochondrial function by enhancing the MMP, mitochondrial ETC enzymes, and antioxidants. It blocked the MPTP opening and release of cytochrome C in anoxic pups. Further, I3C reduced the elevated cortical HIF-1α in neonatal anoxic pups. Furthermore, I3C ameliorated histopathological abnormalities and mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic indicators Cyt C, caspase-9, and caspase-3. Our study concludes that I3C improved neuronal development in anoxic pups by enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing HIF-1α, and mitigating apoptosis., (© 2022 International Society for Developmental Neuroscience.)

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) can induce or modulate several neurobehavioral disorders. Duration and frequency of exposure of EMR is critical to develop cognitive disorders. Even though EMR-2450 is widely used, its effects on cognition in relation to mitochondrial function and apoptosis would provide better understanding of its pathophysiological effects. Therefore, a comparative study of different frequencies of EMR exposure would give valuable information on effects of discrete frequencies of EMR on cognition. Male rats were exposed to EMR (900, 1800 and 2450 MHz) every day for 1 h for 28 consecutive days. The cognitive behavior in terms of novel arm entries in Y-maze paradigm was evaluated every week after 1 h to last EMR exposure. Animals exposed to EMR-2450 MHz exhibited significant cognitive deficits. EMR- 2450 MHz caused loss of mitochondrial function and integrity, an increase in amyloid beta expression. There was release of cytochrome-c and activation of apoptotic factors such as caspase-9 and -3 in the hippocampus. Further, there was decrease in levels of acetylcholine, and increase in activity of acetyl cholinesterase, indicating impairment of cholinergic system. Therefore, exposure of EMR-2450 in rats caused cognitive deficit with related pathophysiological changes in mitochondrial and cholinergic function, and amyloidogenesis.

Neonatal anoxia arises due to oxygen deprivation at the time of birth and results in life long neurodevelopmental deficits and sometimes may lead to death. The present study investigated the time dependent cortical mitochondrial dysfunction linked apoptosis and related sensorimotor deficits in neonates. Neonates after 30h to birth (P2) were subjected to anoxia of two episodes (10min in each) at a time interval of 24h by passing 100% N2 into an enclosed chamber as confirmed by pulse oximetry. Sensorimotor activities like reflex latency and hanging latency were carried out 24h after last anoxic episode i.e. from P4 (day-1) and continued up to P10 (day-7). Mitochondrial dysfunction after anoxia was evident by the decrease in respiration states, respiratory control ratio (RCR), antioxidant enzyme activity but an increase in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) at different time points (30min, 24h and day-7). A change in expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and opening of mitochondrial transition pore (mPTP) in terms of mitochondrial swelling was observed resulting in release of cytochrome-C which further activated intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathway of apoptosis through increased expression of caspase-9/3 as confirmed by flow cytometry. In conclusion, anoxia injury leads to progressive activation of mitochondrial events leading to increase in apoptotic cell death following secondary pathological insult. Therefore, strategies in limiting mitochondrial-linked apoptosis during the secondary insult input process may be useful in treatment of long term sensorimotor deficits following anoxia., (Copyright © 2016 ISDN. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mitochondria play a significant role in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Risperidone and paroxetine were evaluated for their effect on mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in discrete brain regions in modified stress re-stress (SRS) animal model of PTSD. Male rats were subjected to stress protocol of 2 h restraint and 20 min forced swim followed by halothane anesthesia on day 2 (D-2). Thereafter, rats were exposed to re-stress (forced swim) on D-8 and at 6-day intervals on D-14, D-20, D-26, and D-32. The rats were treated with risperidone (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/kg p.o.) and paroxetine (10.0 mg/kg p.o.) from D-8 to D-32. Risperidone at median dose and paroxetine ameliorated modified SRS-induced depressive-like symptom (increase in immobility period) in forced swim, anxiety-like behavior (decrease in percentage of open arm entries and time spent) in elevated plus maze and cognitive deficits (loss in spatial recognition memory) in Y-maze tests on D-32. Risperidone, but not paroxetine, attenuated modified SRS-induced decreases in plasma corticosterone levels. Risperidone ameliorated increase in the activity of mitochondrial respiratory complex (I, II, IV, and V), decreases in the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome-C and caspase-9 in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, pre-frontal cortex, and amygdala. However, both drugs attenuated modified SRS-induced increase in the number of apoptotic cells and caspase-3 levels in all the brain regions indicating anti-apoptotic activity of these drugs. Hence, these results suggest that anti-apoptotic activity could be a common mechanism for anti-PTSD-like effect irrespective of the pathways of apoptosis in the modified SRS model.

The present study investigated the cardioprotection of Indole-3-carbinol on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats. I3C treatment significantly reduced the prolongation of the QRS complex, QT interval, and ST-segment elevation. I3C was also able to normalise blood pressure (SBP, DBP, and MAP) and HR. I3C significantly decreased heart weight, cardiac troponin I (cTn I), CK-MB, LDH, AST and ALT. I3C ameliorated acute hyperglycaemia, hyperlipidemia, and myocardial infarction (%) in ISO rats. I3C treatment significantly elevated the antioxidant enzymes like SOD, CAT, and GSH and attenuated the MDA levels. I3C reduced the inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine 1 L-10. Furthermore, I3C significantly recovered myocardial structure by inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and oedema. Moreover, I3C attenuated apoptotic markers (cytochrome C, caspase 9 and caspase 3). Consequently, I3C restored cardiac function in MI rats by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and I3C could be used to treat myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long term exposure of electromagnetic radiations (EMR) from cell phones and Wi-Fi hold greater propensity to cause anxiety disorders. However, the studies investigating the effects of repeated exposure of EMR are limited. Therefore, we investigated the effects of repeated exposure of discrete frequencies of EMR in experimental animals. Male rats were exposed to EMR (900, 1800 and 2450 MHz) for 28 (1 h/day) days. Long term exposure of EMR (2450 MHz) induced anxiety like behavior. It deregulated the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in rats as observed by increase in plasma corticosterone levels apart from decreased corticotrophin releasing hormone-2 (CRH-2) and Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in amygdala. Further, it impaired mitochondrial function and integrity. The expression of Bcl 2 showed significant decrease while Bax and ratio of Bax: Bcl 2 were increased in the mitochondria and vice versa in cytoplasm indicating altered regulation of apoptosis. EMR exposure caused release of cytochrome-c and expression of caspase-9 ensuing activation of apoptotic cell death. Additional set of experiments performed to estimate the pattern of cell death showed necrotic and apoptotic amygdalar cell death after EMR exposure. Histopathological studies also revealed a significant decrease in neuronal cells in amygdala. The above findings indicate that long-term exposure of EMR radiation (2450 MHz) acts as a stressor and induces anxiety-like behaviors with concomitant pathophysiological changes in EMR subjected rats. Image 1 • EMR-2450 MHz induces stress and aggravates anxiety-like symptoms in rats. • Exposure of EMR-2450 MHz increases plasma corticosterone level and, expression of CRH-2 and GR in amygdala. • Increased expression of cytochrome-C and caspase-9 indicating mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of apoptosis. • Change in expression of mitochondrial Bax: Bcl 2 ratio indicating modulation of apoptosis. • EMR-2450 MHz exposure causes both amygdalar necrotic and apoptotic cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Anoxia leads to a robust generation of reactive oxygen species/nitrogen species which can result in mitochondrial dysfunction and associated cell death in the cerebral cortex of neonates. Aim The present study investigated the pharmacological role of tempol in the treatment of rat neonatal cortical mitochondrial dysfunction induced insult progression (day-1 to day-7) and associated neurobehavioral alterations post-anoxia. Methods Rat pups of 30 h age or postnatal day 2 (PND2) were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n = 5 per group): (1) Control; (2) Anoxia; (3) Anoxia + Tempol 75 mg/kg; (4) Anoxia + Tempol 150 mg/kg; and (5) Anoxia + Tempol 300 mg/kg, and subjected to two episode of anoxia (10 min each) at 24 h of time interval in an enclosed chamber supplied with 100% N 2 . Results Tempol significantly decreased nitric oxide ( NO) formation and simultaneously improved superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Further, we observed a significantly ( P < 0.05) improvement in mitochondrial respiration, complex enzyme activities, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) along with attenuation of transition pore opening (MPT) after treatment with tempol. Furthermore, tempol decreased expression of mitochondrial Bax, cytochrome-C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 while the increase in expression of cytoplasmic Bax, mitochondrial Bcl-2 on day-7 in cortical region indicating regulation of intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Further, it improved anoxia-induced neurobehavioral outcome (hanging and reflex latencies). Conclusion Biochemical, molecular and behavioral studies suggest the role of tempol in preserving mitochondrial function and associated neurobehavioral outcomes after neonatal anoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Silymarin commonly known for its hepatoprotective effect is reported to show protection against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity. Silibinin forms the major active constituent of silymarin. Therefore, the neuroprotective effect of silibinin (50, 100 and 200mg/kg) was evaluated in the unilaterally injected 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in male rats. A battery of tests such as elevated plus maze (EPM), narrow beam walk, open field, bar catalepsy, grip strength, and foot print analysis was performed to evaluate the behavioral symptoms of striatal dopaminergic toxicity. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of silibinin was investigated by evaluating the mitochondrial complex enzyme activities, mitochondrial integrity and oxidative status. Striatal caspase-3 and NFκB were expressed to evaluate the effect of silibinin on apoptosis and inflammation respectively. Silibinin (100 and 200mg/kg) protected against MPP+-induced dopamine depletion in striatum. Silibinin reversed MPP+-induced decrease in transfer latency indicating memory consolidation in the EPM test. Silibinin (100 and 200mg/kg) attenuated MPP+-induced motor deficits, such as fine motor movements and gait. MPP+-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of integrity and oxidative stress were attenuated by silibinin. Silibinin decreased striatal caspase-3 and NFκB expression indicating potential anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects respectively. Hence, silibinin exhibited neuroprotective effect in the MPP+ induced striatal toxicity augmenting dopamine levels. The mechanism of action may be linked to maintenance of mitochondrial bioenergetics and integrity apart from anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]