Expression of NMDA receptor subunits in rat prefrontal cortex with CCL4-induced hepatic damage after a treatment with Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Abstract

IntroductionIn cirrhosis some toxic substances accumulate in brain and modify the expression of several neuronal receptors. Thus, the use of medicinal plants such as Rosmarinus officinalis L. has been proposed in several pathologies due to its hepatoprotective, antioxidant and neuroprotective activity. In this study we evaluated the expression of the subunits NR1, NR2A and NR2B of the glutamate receptor in rat prefrontal cortex in a model of hepatic damage induced with carbon tetrachloride after a treatment with R. officinalis L. MethodsWe used a total of 24 male Wistar rats weighing 80–90g body weight. We formed three study groups: control group (C) without a treatment, carbon tetrachloride group (CC14), and CC14 group plus R. officinalis L. (CCl4+ROM; 1.5g/kg of extract orally). ResultsThe expression of the NR1, NR2A and NR2B subunits in cirrhotic animals increased compared to the control group; however treatment with R. officinalis L. was able to reduce this expression to normal levels compared with CC14 and CCl4+ROM groups. These results could be due to an improvement in hepatic function. ConclusionTreatment with extract of R. officinalis L. in cirrhotic animals modifies the expression of subunits of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor due to an improvement in hepatocellular function in the presence of antioxidant compounds and flavonoids.