Modulation of Ischemia-Induced NMDAR1 Activation by Environmental Enrichment Decreases Oxidative Damage

Abstract

In this study, we examined whether enriched environment (EE) housing has direct neuroprotective effects on oxidative damage following transient global cerebral ischemia. Fifty-two adult male Wistar rats were included in the study and received either ischemia or sham surgery. Once fully awake, rats in each group were randomly assigned to either: EE housing or socially paired housing (CON). Animals remained in their assigned environment for 7 days, and then were killed. Our data showed that glutamate receptor expression was significantly higher in the hippocampus of the ischemia CON group than in the ischemia EE group. Furthermore, the oxidative DNA damage, protein oxidation, and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus of the ischemia CON group were significantly increased compared to the ischemia EE group. These results suggest that EE housing possibly modulated the ischemia-induced glutamate excitotoxicity, which then attenuated the oxidative damage and neurodegeneration in the ischemia EE rats.

RETRACTED: Involvement of insulin-like growth factor-1 in chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment

“…Our data show the temporal pattern of IGF-1 expression and signaling immediately after CMF treatment and later during the recovery period. The upregulation of IGF-1 levels and activation of the Akt and Erk1/2 pathways immediately after CMF therapy suggest a neuroprotective role aimed at maintaining normal brain function following a relatively stressful event, since there is increasing evidence that chemotherapy can induce both direct and indirect neurotoxicity [11, 16, 17, 32]. The neuroprotective role of IGF-1 is underscored in our results showing that exogenous administration after CMF therapy was able to decrease the number of apoptotic cells and increase the survival of NPCs that proliferate.…”

“…Equal amounts of protein (40 μg) from each rat were loaded and separated by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis as previously described [17]. The nitrocellulose membranes containing the protein bands were stained with 0.5% Ponceau Red to visualize protein loading, then destained and non-specific binding sites were blocked by incubation of the membranes in 5% powdered milk in Tris-buffered saline containing 0.5 ml/L Tween-20.…”

“…Several mechanisms have been proposed, both direct and indirect, that may underlie the cognitive changes associated with chemotherapy. For example, experimental studies show that methotrexate and cyclophosphamide when administered systemically can disrupt cell division in certain brain regions critical for learning and memory [11, 16, 17]. Chemotherapy may also induce indirect neurotoxic effects possibly through oxidative stress, vascular damage or immune response dysregulation [18].…”

Treatment with Enriched Environment Reduces Neuronal Apoptosis in the Periinfarct Cortex after Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

“…Mounting studies have suggested that exposure to EE treatment after brain injury leads to neuroprotective effects in animal models [9, 10]. Recently, EE treatment has been translated into a rehabilitation strategy for poststroke patients in the clinical setting [11].…”

Association Between Long-Term Cognitive Decline in Vietnam Veterans With TBI and Caregiver Attachment Style

“…27 Interestingly, a recent study of adult rats showed that an enriched environment has a protective effect on glutamate excitotoxicity, reducing oxidative damage. 28 In contrast, an impoverished environment has a negative impact on neural plasticity. For instance, rats that live in a traditional laboratory cage develop hippocampal atrophy.…”