Expression Pattern of DMRT1 and STRA8 Genes During Postnatal Development of Rabbit Testes

Abstract

Administration of lithium, antidepressant and psychiatric medication, is always prolonged. This study was aimed to detect the adverse effects of long term administration of lithium on cerebral and cerebellar cortices in rats in addition to assess the possible protective effect of curcumin using histological and immunohistochemical methods. Rats were divided into 3 groups (10 for each); group I (control) given distilled water and DMSO orally, group II received lithium carbonate dissolved in distilled water (150 mg/ kg b. wt. / day / intragastric), and group III received curcumin dissolved in 50% DMSO (200 mg/ kg b. wt. / day/ intragastric) 1 hr before lithium carbonate administration for 6 weeks. We examined the cerebrum and cerebellum of rats for glial reactions and cell proliferation by using immunolabelling for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Ki67, respectively. In lithium treated group, both cerebral and cerebellar cortices showed an increased number of positive glial cells for GFAP that was decreased in curcumin treated group. For ki67, cerebral and cerebellar cortices of both lithium and curcumin treated groups showed an increased number of ki67 immunopositive cells. This study advises to administrate curcumin in concomitant with lithium therapy as it can protect against lithium neurotoxicity. Curcumin protects agains t Lithium adminis tration Emam and El-Shafey Experimental design The experiment followed the guidelines of Ethical Committee of Benha University. The rats were divided into 3 groups, each of 10 rats as follow: Group I (control group): Rats were given the same amount of vehicle (distilled water and DMSO) orally for 6 weeks. Group II: Rats received toxic dose of lithium carbonate dissolved in distilled water (150 mg/kg b.wt./ day/ intragastric according to Vijaimohan et al., 2010) for 6 weeks. Group III: Rats in this group received curcumin dissolved in 50% DMSO (200 mg/kg b.wt/ day/ intragastric) according to Ahmed (2013) 1 hr before the administration of the same dose of lithium carbonate as group II daily for 6 weeks.