Curcumin Ameliorate Cortical Histomorphological Deficits in Streptozocin and Western Diet Induced Neurodegeneration in Wistar Rats

We employed a rodent model to typify histomorphological changes connected to dementia-like symptoms and co-morbid insulin resistance; we examined cortical neuronal density and morphological changes; evaluated amyloid (A?) deposits and probed the association between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine Protein kinase (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase 3? (GSK3?) activity and oral curcumin regimen. 36 adult Wistar rats were randomized into six groups (n=6), control group rats received 1ml olive oil; the curcumin group received 200mg/kg BW curcumin; the diabetic model received HFD for 60 days, then three doses of 40mg/kg BW of streptozotocin (STZ); protective group were administered HFD, three doses of 40mg/kg BW of STZ and a concurrent treatment with 200mg/kg BW curcumin within 60 days; The preventive group rats received a pretreatment of 200mg/kg BW of curcumin, HFD for 60 days and three doses of 40mg/kg BW of STZ; the therapeutic group rats were administered HFD, three doses of 40mg/kg BW of STZ within 60 days, followed by 200mg/kg BW of curcumin for 21 days; Cortical sections were stained for microscopic investigations. ELISA was used for quantifying PI3K, AKT and GSK3? activity. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Turkey’s post hoc test. p<0.05 was considered significant. Findings indicate that insulin resistance was associated with cortical cyto-architectural deficits while curcumin ameliorated observed deficits; furthermore, Oral curcumin reduced cortical A? deposits and corrected impaired PI3K, AKT and GSK-3? activities in the studied models. Curcumin showed it ameliorative potentials by up regulating PI3K and AKT activity and inhibiting GSK-3?.

Key Words: Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin resistance, Alzheimer’s disease, Prefrontal cortex, Neurodegenerative disease, Curcumin.