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. 2019 Feb;22(2):154-159.
doi: 10.22038/ijbms.2018.31225.7534.

Effect of berberine chloride on caspase-3 dependent apoptosis and antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus of the chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model

Zeynab Pirmoradi  1 , Mayam Yadegari  2 , Ali Moradi  3 , Fatemeh Khojasteh  4 , Fatemeh Zare Mehrjerdi  1
Affiliations

Effect of berberine chloride on caspase-3 dependent apoptosis and antioxidant capacity in the hippocampus of the chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rat model

Zeynab Pirmoradi et al. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: The main goal of the current research was to examine the effects of Berberine (BBR) on apoptotic signaling and hippocampal oxidative stress induced by common carotid artery occlusion.

Materials and methods: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) model was created by occluding the two common carotid arteries (two-vessel occlusion [2VO]) permanently. BBR (50 and 100 mg/kg/daily) was intra-gastrically administered to ischemic rats. Neuronal survival was evaluated by Nissl staining. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes, including catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with the activities of caspase 3 were estimated in the hippocampus 2 month after treating the rats with 2VO.

Results: According to findings of the present research, the BBR therapy inhibited the neuro-degeneration of hippocampus. BBR also significantly decreased the amount of MDA and activity of caspase 3 in the hippocampus. Furthermore, the administration of BBR alleviated the lowered activities of SOD and CAT after 2VO surgery.

Conclusion: The antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties of BBR might play important roles in improving functional outcomes and might have significant neuroprotective effects on the CCH damage.

Keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Apoptosis; Berberine; Chronic cerebral – hypoperfusion; Common carotid artery MDA; Rat.

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Conflict of interest statement

The Authors declares that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The effects of berberine (BBR) on neuronal density in the hippocampus of the studied groups. Values represent means±SEM. ***P<0.001 compared to sham (SH) group. ##P<0.01, #P<0.05 compared to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group
Figure 2
Figure 2
Nissl staining of hippocampal CA1 region. A: sham (SH) group, B: chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group, C: CCH +berberine (BBR) 50 group, D: CCH+BBR 100 group. The black arrows indicate intact cells and red arrows indicate necrotic cells (magnification ×400)
Figure 3
Figure 3
The effects of berberine (BBR) on activity of caspase 3 in the hippocampus of the studied groups. Values represent means±SEM. **P<0.01 compared to sham group. #P<0.05 compared to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group
Figure 4
Figure 4
The level of caspase 3 in the hippocampus of the studied groups. A: sham (SH) group, B: chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group, C: CCH +berberine (BBR) 50 group, D: CCH+BBR 100 group. The black arrows indicate the expression of the caspase 3 (magnification ×400)
Figure 5
Figure 5
The effects of berberine (BBR) on malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the hippocampus of the studied groups. Values represent means±SEM. ***P<0.001 compared to sham (SH) group. ###P<0.001 compared to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group
Figure 6
Figure 6
The effects of berberine (BBR) on superoxide dismutase (SOD) (Figure A) and catalase (CAT) (Figure B) activity in the hippocampus of the studied groups. Values represent means±SEM. #P<0.05 compared to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group
Figure 7
Figure 7
The effects of berberine (BBR) on percent inhibition of free radicals in the hippocampus of the studied groups. Values represent means±SEM. *P<0.05 compared to sham (SH) group. #P<0.05 compared to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) group
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