Dimethyl sulfoxide provides neuroprotection in a traumatic brain injury model.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective potential of the antioxidant, curcumin compared to alpha-tocopherol in a rat model of traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered curcumin (3, 30, 300 mg/kg), alpha-tocopherol (100 mg/kg), DMSO vehicle, or saline, 30 min prior to and 30 and 90 min after moderate lateral fluid percussion TBI. Rats were euthanized at 24 hours after injury and coronal brain sections were stained with Fluoro-Jade to identify degenerating neurons. Degenerating neurons in the CA2-3 sector of the dorsal hippocampus were quantified in 10 sections spaced 300 microm apart in each rat.


RESULTS
One way ANOVA revealed a significant difference (p = 0.01) between groups. The curcumin, alpha-tocopherol, and DMSO groups had significantly reduced numbers of degenerating neurons compared to the saline-treated group. No significant differences were observed between any of the drug treatment groups or the DMSO group.


CONCLUSIONS
Since protection in the DMSO vehicle group was equal to that of the experimental groups, no conclusions about neuroprotection regarding alpha-tocopherol or curcumin can be made from this study. The results suggest that DMSO may be acting as an overriding neuroprotectant in this experiment. We conclude that DMSO is a viable neuroprotective agent against secondary cell death in TBI.
Di Giorgio
Anthony M
AM
Aaken Laboratories, Davis, CA, USA.
Hou
Yongjin
Y
Zhao
Xueren
X
Zhang
Bin
B
Lyeth
Bruce G
BG
Russell
Michael J
MJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005452:Fluoresceins; D008297:Male; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005452:Fluoresceins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C435731:fluoro jade; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide