Morin improves functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats by enhancing axon regeneration via the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological occurrence that usually leads to a loss of motor and sensory function in patients. Axon regeneration has been reported to be crucial for recovery after trauma to the nervous system. Morin, a natural bioflavonoid obtained from the Moraceae family, has previously been reported to exert neuroprotective effects. In our study, we investigated the protective effects of morin on PC12 cells and primary neurons treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and its function in an SCI model. In vitro experiments showed that treating neuronal cells with morin enhanced axonal regeneration after OGD treatment by regulating microtubule stabilization and protecting mitochondrial function. Mechanistically, morin protected neuronal cells exposed to OGD by activating the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathway. An in vivo study illustrated that oral morin administration improved microtubule stability and promoted axon regeneration in SCI rats. Taken together, this study showed that treatment with morin improves functional recovery after SCI and that morin may serve as a potential agent for treating SCI.

• Authors: Haiming Jin, Fangzhou Qi, Feifan Chu, Chen Liu, Tianchen Qian, Weimin Zeng, Qingqing Wang, Xiangyang Wang, Jian Xiao
• Journal: Phytotherapy research : PTR (Phytother Res) Vol. 35 Issue 10 Pg. 5754-5766 (Oct 2021) ISSN: 1099-1573 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34431562 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chemical References

• Flavonoids
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• morin
• Heme Oxygenase-1

Topics

• Animals
• Axons
• Flavonoids (pharmacology)
• Heme Oxygenase-1
• Humans
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• Nerve Regeneration
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Spinal Cord
• Spinal Cord Injuries (drug therapy)