Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating
neurodegenerative disease, representing a major cause of neurological disability in young adults.
Resveratrol is a
stilbenoid polyphenol, known to pass blood brain barrier and exhibit
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and
neuroprotective effects in several
brain injuries.
Cuprizone model of MS is particularly beneficial in studying
demyelination/remyelination. Our study examined the potential neuroprotective and pro-remyelination effects of
resveratrol in
cuprizone-intoxicated C57Bl/6 mice. Mice were fed with chow containing 0.7 %
cuprizone for 7 days, followed by 3 weeks on 0.2 %
cuprizone diet.
Resveratrol (250 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was given for 3 weeks starting from the second week. At the end of the experiment, animals were tested on rotarod to evaluate changes in balance and motor coordination. Mice were then sacrificed to measure the brain content of
glutathione, lipid peroxidation products,
adenosine triphosphate, and phospho-inhibitory subunit of nuclear factor κB-α. The activities of
cytochrome oxidase and
superoxide dismutase were also assessed. The gene expression of
myelin basic protein, 2',3'-cyclic
nucleotide 3'
phosphodiesterase, oligodendrocyte transcription factor-1 (Olig1), NF-κB p65 subunit, and
tumor necrosis factor-α was also estimated.
Luxol fast blue/
periodic acid-Schiff stained brain sections were blindly scored to assess the myelin status.
Resveratrol effectively enhanced motor coordination and balance, reversed
cuprizone-induced
demyelination, improved mitochondrial function, alleviated oxidative stress, and inhibited NF-κB signaling. Interestingly,
resveratrol increased Olig1 expression that is positively correlated to active remyelination. The present study may be the first to indicate a pro-remyelinative effect for
resveratrol which might represent a potential additive benefit in treating MS.