title: Crocin improves spatial learning and memory deficits in the Morris water maze via attenuating cortical oxidative damage in diabetic rats.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of crocin on improving spatial memory deficits and cerebral oxidative damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Crocin was administered intraperitoneally daily at doses of 15, 30 and 60mg/kg for 6 weeks. Spatial memory performance was measured in rats by the Morris water maze paradigm. Lipid peroxidation and total thiol levels as parameters of oxidative stress were assessed in the cerebral cortex at the end of week 6. Diabetic rats showed spatial learning and memory deficits in the Morris water maze which was accompanied by increased lipid peroxidation levels in the cerebral cortex. By contrast, chronic treatment with crocin (15, 30 and 60mg/kg, ip, 6 weeks) improved cognitive performance and lowered hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the results suggest that beneficial effects of crocin on streptozotocin-induced memory dysfunction may be attributed to its antidiabetic and antioxidant activity, which could find clinical use in treating cognitive dysfunction in diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic address: rajaeiz@med.mui.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rajaei
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hadjzadeh
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nemati
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Research Center and Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosseini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D002338:Carotenoids; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C029036:crocin
keywords: Crocin; Diabetes mellitus; Hyperglycaemia; Morris water maze; Oxidative stress; Spatial memory