Protective effects of hydroponic Teucrium polium on hippocampal neurodegeneration in ovariectomized rats

Abstract

BackgroundThe hippocampus is a target of ovarian hormones, and is necessary for memory. Ovarian hormone loss is associated with a progressive reduction in synaptic strength and dendritic spine. Teucrium polium has beneficial effects on learning and memory. However, it remains unknown whether Teucrium polium ameliorates hippocampal cells spike activity and morphological impairments induced by estrogen deficiency.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated the effects of hydroponic Teucrium polium on hippocampal neuronal activity and morpho-histochemistry of bilateral ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Tetanic potentiation or depression with posttetanic potentiation and depression was recorded extracellularly in response to ipsilateral entorhinal cortex high frequency stimulation. In morpho-histochemical study revealing of the activity of Ca2+-dependent acid phosphatase was observed. In all groups (sham-operated, sham + Teucrium polium, OVX, OVX + Teucrium polium), most recorded hippocampal neurons at HFS of entorhinal cortex showed TD-PTP responses.ResultsAfter 8 weeks in OVX group an anomalous evoked spike activity was detected (a high percentage of typical areactive units). In OVX + Teucrium polium group a synaptic activity was revealed, indicating prevention OVX-induced degenerative alterations: balance of types of responses was close to norm and areactive units were not recorded. All recorded neurons in sham + Teucrium polium group were characterized by the highest mean frequency background and poststimulus activity. In OVX+ Teucrium polium group the hippocampal cells had recovered their size and shape in CA1 and CA3 field compared with OVX group where hippocampal cells were characterized by a sharp drop in phosphatase activity and there was a complete lack of processes reaction.ConclusionThus, Teucrium polium reduced OVX-induce neurodegenerative alterations in entorhinal cortex-hippocamp circuitry and facilitated neuronal survival by modulating activity of neurotransmitters and network plasticity.

The Effect of Crude Extract and Fractions of Teucrium polium L. on the Brain, Liver, and Kidney of Male Rats

“…Besides, aqueous and methanolic extracts of T. polium exerted cytotoxic effects on some cancerous cell lines, including a new type of glioblastoma multiforme (21,24). Evidence (25,26) demonstrated that known doses of T. polium had positive effects on learning and memory in diabetic rats. In addition, it could protect the hippocampus against neuronal damage.…”

Review on Teucrium polium biological activities and medical characteristics against different pathologic situations

“…Their findings of proved that T. polium protected the rat against the memory impairments induced diabetes by reducing the brain tissues oxidative damage in rats. 47 Simonyan et al 49 demonstrated that hydroponic T. polium had protective effects on hippocampal neurodegeneration by modulating neurotransmitters activates and network plasticity in ovariectomized rats.…”

Low Dose Teucrium Polium Hydro-Alcoholic Extract Treatment Effects on Spatial Memory and Hippocampal Neuronal Count of Rat Aβ25-35 Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Recent studies have confirmed wide ranges of diseases that can be affected by plant use, including cancer, gastric disorders, visceral pain, diabetes, inflammation, infectious states, vascular disorders, hepatic disease, rheumatism, and central nervous system-related diseases (1,2). TP has potent antioxidant, anti-choline esterase, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and hippocampal neuronal survival properties (3,4). These multi-purpose effects can logically be designed for various debilitating central nervous system-related diseases such as AD.…”