Ebselen protects mitochondrial function and oxidative stress while inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway after acute spinal cord injury

Publication date: 21 June 2018 Source:Neuroscience Letters, Volume 678 Author(s): Zhi-Qiang Jia, San-Qiang Li, Wei-Qiang Qiao, Wen-Zhong Xu, Jian-Wu Xing, Jian-Tao Liu, Hui Song, Zhong-Yang Gao, Bing-Wen Xing, Xi-Jing He Ebselen is a fat-soluble small molecule and organic selenium compound that regulates the activity of glutathione peroxidase to alleviate mitochondrial oxidative stress and improve mitochondrial function. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ebselen on mitochondrial oxidative stress response, mitochondrial apotosis, and motor behaviors after spinal cord injury (SCI). We found that ebselen significantly increased the BBB score in motor behavior, thus suggesting a rescue effect of ebselen on motor function after SCI in rats. Meanwhile, we revealed that ebselen can increase glutathione (GSH) content as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities after SCI—this suggests ebselen has an antioxidant effect. Furthermore, the ATP content and Na+-K+-ATPase activity in mitochondria were increased by ebselen after SCI, while the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was decreased by ebselen. The Cytochrome C and Smac release from mitochondria were reduced by ebselen after SCI, thus indicating improved membrane permeability by ebselen. Moreover, the alterations in caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression, as well as the proportion of cell apoptosis were improved by ebselen treatment, which together suggested th...
Source: Neuroscience Letters - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research