Potential protection of curcumin against hypoxia-induced decreases in beta-III tubulin content in rat prefrontal cortical neurons.

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) is highly dependent on adequate supply of oxygen and is sensitive to hypoxia. It is known that hypoxia induces injuries on the brain tissue and the neuronal activity. Curcumin, a yellow pigment obtained from the rhizome of C. longa Linn., has been regarded as a multi-functional drug with antioxidative activity. In the present study, we first demonstrated a significant decrease in the content of beta-III tubulin protein in rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) tissues induced by repeated hypoxia, but not in rat cerebellum tissue. These suggest a relatively higher sensitivity and probably a higher vulnerability of rat PFC tissue to hypoxia in vivo. We reconfirmed the effect of hypoxia to primary cultured neurons from rat PFC and found a significant decrease in the contents of beta-III tubulin protein after chronic exposure to hypoxia. Moreover, we demonstrated that the hypoxia-induced decrease in beta-III tubulin protein content could be restored by curcumin, suggesting a potential protection of curcumin against hypoxia-induced decreases in beta-III tubulin content in rat PFC neurons.

• Authors: Yu Shen, Long-Chuan Yu
• Journal: Neurochemical research (Neurochem Res) Vol. 33 Issue 10 Pg. 2112-7 (Oct 2008) ISSN: 1573-6903 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18461445 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Tubb3 protein, rat
• Tubulin
• Curcumin

Topics

• Animals
• Cells, Cultured
• Curcumin (pharmacology)
• Hypoxia, Brain (physiopathology)
• Male
• Neurons (metabolism)
• Prefrontal Cortex (drug effects, metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Tubulin (metabolism)