Possible mechanisms involved in the neuroprotective effects of chrysin against mild traumatic brain injury-induced spatial cognitive decline: An in vivo study in a rat model

Brain Res Bull. 2023 Oct 10:110779. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110779. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is recognized as an important risk factor for cognitive deficits. The present study was designed to determine the potential neuroprotective effects of chrysin, a natural flavonoid compound, against TBI-induced spatial cognitive decline and the possible mechanisms involved. Oral administration of chrysin (25, 50, or 100mg/kg/day) was initiated in rats immediately following the induction of the diffuse TBI model using the weight-dropping Marmarou model. Spatial cognitive ability, hippocampal synaptic plasticity, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, brain water content, and histological changes were assessed at scheduled time points. The animals subjected to TBI exhibited spatial cognitive decline in the Morris water maze (MWM) test, which was accompanied by inhibition of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) induction at the perforant path-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) synapses. Additionally, TBI caused BBB disruption, brain edema, and neuronal loss. Interestingly, treatment with chrysin (especially in the dose of 100mg/kg) alleviated all the above-mentioned neuropathological changes related to TBI. The results provide evidence that chrysin improves TBI-induced spatial cognitive decline, which may be partly related to the amelioration of hippocampal synaptic dysfunction, alleviation of BBB disruption, reduction of brain edema, and prevention of n...

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - October 12, 2023 Category: Neurology Authors: Masome Rashno Alireza Sarkaki Yaghoob Farbood Mohammad Rashno Layasadat Khorsandi Mohammad Kazem Gharib Naseri Mahin Dianat Source Type: research