Investigating the Effect of Neuroaid on the Expression of BDNF Gene in the Cerebellum of Morphine-Addicted Rats

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, addiction is one of the biggest problems concerning not only physicians but also all people who care about their personal and social health and well-being. Addiction distracts the neural circuits involved in reward system, motivation and memory in the brain, resulting in biologic, physiologic, social and mental consequences. Most of the studies in transcription factors engaged in addiction involved the accumbens nucleus of the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Neuroaid on the expression of morphine-dependent BDNF gene in the rat cerebellum. Methods: The expression levels of BDNF gene in four main groups checked by Real Time-PCR method after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. The comparative threshold cycle (2 - △△ CT ) method and T-test was used to compared expression in treatment and control groups. Results: Results of BDNF gene analysis showed that Neuroaid increased BDNF gene expression compared to the control group (P= 0.031). Also, results of morphine-addicted rat show that Neuroaid compensates for reduced BDNF gene expression in morphine-addicted rat (P =0.037).