Ganguly R, Guha D
S. N. Pradhan Centre for Neurosciences, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India.
Indian J Med Res. 2008 Dec;128(6):744-51.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The monoaminergic systems which exert a modulatory role in memory processing, are disturbed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Moringa oleifera (MO) has been shown to exert its effect in CNS by altering the brain monoamines. The present study aims to see whether chronic oral treatment of ethanolic extract of MO leaves can alter the brain monoamines (norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) in distinct areas of brain in rat model of AD caused by intracerebroverticle (ICV) infusion of colchicine and hence can provide protection against monoaminergic deficits associated with AD.
Rats were given ICV infusion of colchicine (15 microg/5microl) and MO leaf alcoholic extract was given in various doses. The effective dose was standardized by radial arm maze (RAM) training. From the selected dose of 250 mg/kg body weight, the biochemical estimations and EEG studies were performed.
Stereotaxic ICV infusion of colchicine significantly impaired the RAM performance together with decrease in norepinephrine (NE) level in cerebral cortex (CC), hippocampus (HC) and caudate nucleus (CN). Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) levels were decreased in CC, HC and CN. The EEG studies showed a decrease in beta and alpha waves and increase in biphasic spike wave pattern in experimental Alzheimer rat model. Treatment with MO extract markedly increased the number of correct choices in a RAM task with variable alteration of brain monoamines. The EEG studies showed an increase in beta waves and a decrease in spike wave discharges.
INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our results showed that brain monoamines were altered discreetly in different brain areas after colchicine infusion in brain. After treatment with MO, leaf extract the monoamine levels of brain regions were restored to near control levels. Our findings indicated that MO might have a role in providing protection against AD in rat model by altering brain menoamine levels and electrical activity.
在记忆处理中发挥调节作用的单胺能系统在阿尔茨海默病（AD）中受到干扰，而辣木（MO）已被证明可通过改变脑单胺在中枢神经系统中发挥作用。本研究旨在观察MO叶乙醇提取物的慢性口服治疗是否能改变由脑室内（ICV）注射秋水仙碱所致AD大鼠模型脑不同区域的脑单胺（去甲肾上腺素、多巴胺和5-羟色胺），从而为预防与AD相关的单胺能缺陷提供保护。
给大鼠ICV注射秋水仙碱（15微克/5微升），并给予不同剂量的MO叶乙醇提取物。有效剂量通过放射状臂迷宫（RAM）训练进行标准化。从选定的250毫克/千克体重剂量开始，进行生化测定和脑电图研究。
立体定向ICV注射秋水仙碱显著损害RAM表现，同时大脑皮质（CC）、海马体（HC）和尾状核（CN）中的去甲肾上腺素（NE）水平降低。CC、HC和CN中的多巴胺（DA）和5-羟色胺（5-HT）水平降低。脑电图研究显示，实验性AD大鼠模型中的β波和α波减少，双相棘波模式增加。用MO提取物治疗可显著增加RAM任务中的正确选择次数，同时脑单胺有不同程度的变化。脑电图研究显示β波增加，棘波放电减少。
我们的结果表明，脑室内注射秋水仙碱后，不同脑区的脑单胺发生了不同程度的改变。用MO叶提取物治疗后，脑区的单胺水平恢复到接近对照水平。我们的研究结果表明，MO可能通过改变脑单胺水平和电活动在大鼠模型中对AD起到保护作用。
