Background
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder characterized by Aβ‐plaque deposition, formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. Although not the initiator of the disease, neuroinflammation has been known to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. Neuroinflammation was induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which expresses a cascade of enzymes leading to tau hyperphosphorylation and deposition of β‐amyloid plaques, ultimately leading to cell apoptosis. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been reported to have anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective activity, though the exact mechanism for its effect has not been explored. Thus, Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a known H2S donor, was used to determine the mechanism of its neuroprotective activity in LPS‐induced apoptosis and neuroinflammation in mice.
Method
NaHS (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg i.p.) was administered to Swiss albino mice for 28 days. From 15th day, LPS (0.25mg/kg i.p.) was administered for 7 days along with NaHS. Memory impairment was evaluated by using Morris Water Maze (MWM) task and Y‐maze task. At the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and brain tissue homogenates were used for evaluating biochemical parameters. Brain tissue homogenates were evaluated for anti‐apoptotic (c‐Jun and Caspase‐3), anti‐inflammatory (TNF‐α and IL‐6), antioxidant [Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO)], and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities.
Result
LPS administration significantly increased neurodegeneration and caused cognitive impairment in mice. NaHS lead to improved basal memory retention in MWM and Y‐maze tasks. Treatment with NaHS attenuated LPO which was induced by LPS. NaHS normalized the decreased levels of GSH in LPS treated groups. However, NaHS administration failed to significantly prevent increase in AChE activity. The activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly increased in NaHS + LPS treated groups. LPS upregulated c‐Jun and Caspase‐3 levels and NaHS prevented it. Increase in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α and IL‐6) were significantly alleviated by NaHS treatment.
Conclusion
H2S treatment significantly attenuates LPS‐induced oxidative stress, memory deficit, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation. The results indicate that H2S is effective in providing protection against neurodegeneration and H2S containing hybrids can be explored further for their potential clinical use as prophylactic and symptomatic therapy in AD.
Background: India is the biggest HIV epidemic in the world. The role of a pharmacist is pivotal in educating the general masses. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of pharmacy students from University of Mumbai.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in University of Mumbai during February-March 2020. Therein, 307 students (214: females and 94: males) participated in the study. The questionnaire was distributed in the classroom and data was collected by means of Google-forms. Furthermore, the data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 23.Results: The participants demonstrated good knowledge (84%) and attitude (76%) score. With respect to knowledge score, no significant difference was observed except for responses of two questions, aim of the antiretroviral therapy (ART) and Avoidance of sexual intercourse can decrease the risk of HIV. With respect to attitude score, Volunteering to work at an institute for the welfare of HIV patients showed a significant difference.Conclusion: The current study showed that there were no misconceptions or negative attitude regarding HIV among the students. However, a study with greater sample size must be conducted across India for further investigation.
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