title: The Effect of Thymoquinone, α7 Receptor Agonist and α7 Receptor Allosteric Modulator on the Cerebral Cortex in Experimentally Induced Alzheimer's Disease in Relation to MSCs Activation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older persons. Thymoquinone (TQ) has anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant and antioxidant activity. A novelα7 nicotinic acetyl choline receptor (α7 nAChR ) agonist (PNU- 282987) have been identified to enhance the cognitive performance. An alternative treatment strategy via compounds known as nicotinic "positive allosteric modulators" (PAMs) has been reported. This study was designed to investigate the combination of PAM ofα7 nAChRs with PNU- 282987 or with TQ as a possible treatment for AD in rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  48 male albino rats were divided into 4 groups. Group І (Control), Group II received lipopolysaccharide, 0.8 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection (IPI) once, Group III received TQ 10 mg/kg by IPI, Group IV received PNU-120596 1 mg/kg by IPI, in addition to PNU-282987 1 mg/kg by IPI in subgroup IVa and TQ in subgroup b. All treatment drugs were given for 5 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acidophilic masses, deformed neurons, Congo red +ve masses and reduced Phospho-CREB immunoexpression were seen in group II. All changes regressed by treatment. Some CD44 +ve cells were noticed in group II and few +ve cells in subgroup IVa, that became multiple in group III and subgroup IVb. The histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical changes were confirmed statistically and significant differences were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TQ orα7 nAChR agonist combined with PAM can have an important role in treatment of AD that is superior to thymoquinone alone. Exceptionally, TQ single or combined with PAM proved activation of MSC.
authors: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors: Lamiaa
authors: L
authors: Ibrahim AbdEl Fattah
authors: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors: Maha Baligh
authors: MB
authors: Zickri
authors: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors: Lobna Abdel
authors: LA
authors: Aal
authors: Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors: Ola
authors: O
authors: Heikal
authors: Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology-German University in Cairo (GUC), Egypt.
authors: Esraa
authors: E
authors: Osama
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; LPS; MSCs; PNU- 120596; PNU- 282987; Thymoquinone