Sulindac attenuates valproic acid-induced oxidative stress levels in primary cultured cortical neurons and ameliorates repetitive/stereotypic-like movement disorders in Wistar rats prenatally exposed to valproic acid.
Accumulating evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants have neuroprotective properties and may be beneficial in the treatment of neurodevelopental disorders, such as autism. In the present study, the possible neuroprotective properties of sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), were investigated in vitro using cultured cortical neurons with valproic acid (VPA)-induced neurotoxicity, as well as in vivo through the behavioral analysis of rats prenatally exposed to VPA as a model of autism. VPA induced 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and decreased cell viability in primary cultured cortical neurons established from timed-pregnant (embryonic day 18) Wistar rat pups. However, co-incubation of the neurons with VPA and sulindac reduced oxidative stress and increased cell viability. The rats were administered an intraperitoneal injection with one of the following: VPA, sulindac, VPA and sulindac, or physiological saline, and their offspring were subjected to the open field test. During the test trials, repetitive/stereotypic-like movements for each rat were recorded and analyzed. The results revealed that treatment with both sulindac and VPA reduced the VPA-induced repetitive/stereotypic-like activity and the sulindac and VPA-treated animals responded better in the open field test compared to the VPA-treated animals. The results from the present study demonstrate that the antioxidant properties of sulindac may prove to be beneficial in the treatment of autism, suggesting that the upregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway disrupts oxidative homeostasis and facilitates susceptibility to autism.
Department of Human Anatomy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, P.R. China.
Yinghua
Y
Zhang
The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
Cailing
C
Yang
The First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, Henan 453100, P.R. China.
Guoyan
G
Yuan
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
Zhongping
Z
Wang
Department of Human Anatomy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, P.R. China.
Weigang
W
Cui
Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China.
Ruixi
R
Li
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013467:Sulindac / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D051176:beta Catenin; D013467:Sulindac; D014635:Valproic Acid; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3