Noorafshan A, Abdollahifar M-A, Karbalay-Doust S, Asadi-Golshan R, Rashidian-Rashidabadi A
Saied Karbalay-Doust, Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Zand Ave., Shiraz, Iran, Postal code: 71348-45794, phone/fax: +98-711-2304372, e-mail:
Folia Neuropathol. 2015;53(1):69-79. doi: 10.5114/fn.2015.49976.
Stress induces structural and behavioral impairments. The changes in dendrites and neurons are accompanied by impairments in the tasks mediated by the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The present study was conducted to evaluate the structural changes of the dendrites and neurons of the mPFC after stress using stereological methods. In addition, the effects of a natural and a synthetic substance, i.e., curcumin and sertraline, were evaluated. The rats were divided into 7 groups: stress + distilled water, stress + olive oil, curcumin (100 mg/kg/day), sertraline (10 mg/kg/day), stress + curcumin, stress + sertraline, and control groups. The animals were submitted to chronic variable stress for 56 days. The results showed an average 15% reduction in the length of the dendrites per neuron in the mPFC after stress (p < 0.004). The total spine density was reduced by 50% in the stress (+ olive oil or + distilled water) groups in comparison with the control group (p < 0.01). The main reduction was seen in the thin and mushroom spines, while the stubby spines remained unchanged. Mean volume and surface area of the neurons were decreased by 14% and 10% on average in the stress (+ distilled water or + olive oil) rats in comparison to the control rats, respectively (p < 0.01). The data revealed that treatment of stressed rats with curcumin or sertraline can prevent the loss of spines and reduction of dendrite length, volume and surface area of the neurons. Sertraline and curcumin can prevent structural changes of the neurons and dendrites induced by stress in the mPFC of rats.
应激会导致结构和行为损伤。树突和神经元的变化伴随着内侧前额叶皮质（mPFC）介导的任务受损。本研究旨在使用体视学方法评估应激后mPFC树突和神经元的结构变化。此外，还评估了一种天然物质和一种合成物质，即姜黄素和舍曲林的作用。将大鼠分为7组：应激+蒸馏水、应激+橄榄油、姜黄素（100毫克/千克/天）、舍曲林（10毫克/千克/天）、应激+姜黄素、应激+舍曲林和对照组。对动物施加56天的慢性可变应激。结果显示，应激后mPFC中每个神经元的树突长度平均减少15%（p<0.004）。与对照组相比，应激（+橄榄油或+蒸馏水）组的总棘密度降低了50%（p<0.01）。主要减少的是细棘和蘑菇棘，而短粗棘保持不变。与对照大鼠相比，应激（+蒸馏水或+橄榄油）大鼠的神经元平均体积和表面积分别平均减少了14%和10%（p<0.01）。数据显示，用姜黄素或舍曲林治疗应激大鼠可防止棘的丢失以及神经元树突长度、体积和表面积的减少。舍曲林和姜黄素可防止大鼠mPFC中应激诱导的神经元和树突的结构变化。
