title: Luteolin protects the hippocampus against neuron impairments induced by kainic acid in rats.
abstract: Glutamatergic excitotoxicity is crucial in the pathogenesis of numerous brain disorders. Luteolin, a flavonoid compound, inhibits glutamate release, however, its ability to affect glutamate-induced brain injury is unknown. Therefore, this study evaluated the protective effect of luteolin against brain damage induced by kainic acid (KA), a glutamate analog. Rats were treated with luteolin (10 or 50mg/kg, intraperitoneally) 30min before an intraperitoneal injection of KA (15mg/kg). Luteolin treatment reduced the KA-induced seizure score and elevations of glutamate levels in the hippocampus. A histopathological analysis showed that luteolin attenuated KA-induced neuronal death and microglial activation in the hippocampus. An immunoblotting analysis showed that luteolin restored the KA-induced reduction in Akt phosphorylation in the hippocampus. Furthermore, a Morris water maze test revealed that luteolin effectively prevented KA-induced learning and memory impairments. The results suggest that luteolin protected rat brains from KA-induced excitotoxic damage by reducing glutamate levels, mitigating inflammation, and enhancing Akt activation in the hippocampus. Therefore, luteolin may be beneficial for preventing or treating brain disorders associated with excitotoxic neuronal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Far-Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, No. 510, Zhongzheng Rd., Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, 24205, Taiwan. Electronic address: med0003@mail.fju.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Su Jane
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000633:toxicity*; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D047311:Luteolin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D039481:CD11b Antigen; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D005452:Fluoresceins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C435731:fluoro jade; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D047311:Luteolin; D007608:Kainic Acid
keywords: Cognitive function; Excitotoxicity; Hippocampus; Kainic acid; Luteolin; Neuroprotection