title: Pycnogenol protects CA3-CA1 synaptic function in a rat model of traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Pycnogenol (PYC) is a patented mix of bioflavonoids with potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Previously, we showed that PYC administration to rats within hours after a controlled cortical impact (CCI) injury significantly protects against the loss of several synaptic proteins in the hippocampus. Here, we investigated the effects of PYC on CA3-CA1 synaptic function following CCI. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats received an ipsilateral CCI injury followed 15 min later by intravenous injection of saline vehicle or PYC (10 mg/kg). Hippocampal slices from the injured (ipsilateral) and uninjured (contralateral) hemispheres were prepared at seven and fourteen days post-CCI for electrophysiological analyses of CA3-CA1 synaptic function and induction of long-term depression (LTD). Basal synaptic strength was impaired in slices from the ipsilateral, relative to the contralateral, hemisphere at seven days post-CCI and susceptibility to LTD was enhanced in the ipsilateral hemisphere at both post-injury timepoints. No interhemispheric differences in basal synaptic strength or LTD induction were observed in rats treated with PYC. The results show that PYC preserves synaptic function after CCI and provides further rationale for investigating the use of PYC as a therapeutic in humans suffering from neurotrauma.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address: cnorr2@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address: pradoldej.sompol@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Pradoldej
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sompol
authors.affiliation: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address: knrobe2@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Kelly N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address: mubeen.ansari@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Mubeen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, United States. Electronic address: sscheff@email.uky.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Scheff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D056654:CA3 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C024070:pycnogenols
keywords: Hippocampus; Oxidative stress; Pycnogenol®; Synaptic transmission; Traumatic brain injury