The effect of crocin on apoptotic, inflammatory, BDNF, Pt, and Aβ40 indicators and neuronal density of CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions of hippocampus in the model of Alzheimer suffering rats induced with trimethyltin chloride

Abstract

Alzheimer disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent progressive neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system. Regarding the anti-oxidant and neuroprotective effects of crocin, this research was conducted to determine the effect of crocin on apoptotic, inflammatory, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phospho tau protein (Pt), and Aβ40 (Amyloid beta40) indicators and neuronal density in CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions in hippocampus in the model of Alzheimer suffering rats. In this experimental study, 56 male rats were divided into 4 equal groups (14 rats in each group). Control group: model of Alzheimer suffering rats who received single intraperitoneal injection of 8 mg/kg trimethyltin chloride (TMT) and two Alzheimer’s group who were treated with crocin in 25 (TMT + CRO25) and 50 (TMT + CRO50) mg/kg doses. At the end of the therapy course, the level of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-9, BDNF, Pt, and Aβ40 in hippocampus and the level of cytokines included TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum were measured by ELISA method. After preparation of the tissue sections from hippocampus, the neuronal density of CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions was measured using dissector method. The level of Bcl-2, BDNF, and neuronal density of CA1, CA2, and CA3 regions in hippocampus of TMT + CRO50 was increased significantly in comparison with the TMT group, but the levels of Bax, Caspase-9, Pt, and Aβ40 and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were decreased (P < 0.01). This statistical comparison represented no significant difference for crocin dosage of 25 mg/kg (P < 0.01). As a natural anti-oxidant, crocin has a protective effect against neuronal degeneration from trimethyltin chloride.