Brain research bulletin
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Brain research bulletin · Sep 2017
The protective effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on traumatic brain injury (TBI) induced memory deficits in rats.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), as an expanding public health epidemic, is a common cause of death among youth. TBI is associated with cognitive deficits and memory impairment. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a novel gaseous mediator, has been recognized as an important neuromodulator and neuroprotective agent in the central nervous system. ⋯ Treatment with NaHS (5 mg/kg) decreased the escape latency [F (1, 24)=7.559, P<0.05, two-way ANOVA] and traveled distance [F (1, 12)=6.398, P<0.05, Two way ANOVA)]. In probe test, injured animals spent less time in target zone (P<0.05, unpaired t-test) and NaHS did not have any effect on this parameter (p>0.05, one way ANOVA). These findings suggest that NaHS has a neuroprotective effect on TBI-induced memory impairment in rats.
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Brain research bulletin · Sep 2017
Influence of social interaction on nociceptive-induced changes in locomotor activity in a mouse model of acute inflammatory pain: Use of novel thermal assays.
Most acute and chronic animal models of pain rely heavily on reflexive assays for evaluating levels of nociception, which involves removing the animal from its normal social environment. Here, we examine and characterize the influence of social interactions on inflammatory pain-evoked changes in movement in two different mouse strains. To produce inflammatory nociception, we injected CFA bilaterally into the hind paws of Balb/c and C3H mice and then recorded exploratory locomotor activity using an automated detector system to first evaluate the effects of social behavior on nociception. ⋯ Carprofen administration completely blocked this CFA-induced hyperlocomotor activity. Both heat and cold induced a significant increase in locomotor activity in paired mice injected with CFA, while having no effect on activity in control mice injected with saline. The results presented here indicate that social interactions greatly influence inflammatory pain-induced changes in locomotor activity and indicate that the use of movement-based assays to evaluate nociception in paired mice may provide an alternative and more sensitive method to quantify nociception and characterize novel analgesic effects over time in the context of social interactions in rodent models of pain.
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Brain research bulletin · Sep 2017
The effect of monascin on hematoma clearance and edema after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats.
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a particularly devastating form of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Hematomas are the primary cause of neurologic deficits associated with ICH. The products of hematoma are recognized as neurotoxins and the main contributors to edema formation and tissue damage after ICH. Finding a means to efficiently promote absorption of hematoma is a novel clinical challenge for ICH. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), had been shown that, can take potential roles in the endogenous hematoma clearance. However, monascin, a novel natural Nrf2 activator with PPARγ agonist, has not been reported to play a role in ICH. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of monascin on neurological deficits, hematoma clearance and edema extinction in a model of ICH in rats. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that the high dosage of monascin played a neuroprotective role in ICH through reducing BBB permeability, edema and hematoma volume.