Ann Clin Toxicol | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Azza A Ali*, Hebatalla I Ahmed and Heba S Zaky
Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
*Correspondance to: Azza A Ali
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Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Stress is implicated in the development of AD since oxidative stress has been linked to cognitive impairment. Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin in green tea and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects, while Diazepam is an anxiolytic with promising neuroprotective properties. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of stress on behavioral, biochemical and histopathological changes accompanied induction and progression of AD as well as the possible protection using EGCG and/or Diazepam.
Methods: Seven groups (8 rats/group) were daily IP injected for six week either with saline for control (2 groups) or with 70 mg/kg AlCl3 for AD-induced model (5 groups). Stress was induced for all groups except one control and one AlCl3 group by exposing rats 6 times during six weeks to Stress-induced box paradigm (one time/week for 30 minute). Three groups of AD-induced model were also daily received either EGCG (10 mg/kg, IP), Diazepam (0.1 mg/kg, IP) or their combination. All rats were examined in two behavioral experiments; Morris water maze task and Conditioned-avoidance test. Histological examination was achieved in different brain regions and biochemical measurements as brain cholinergic markers (AChE); oxidative stress markers (SOD, GPx, MDA, TAC) and inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β) were also assayed for all groups.
Results: Rats exposed to AlCl3 together with stress showed marked decline in learning and memory abilities. Stress also induced significant elevation in hippocampus TNF-α, IL-1β and MDA level as well as in AChE activity accompanied by reduction in GPx, TAC and SOD activities. Marked histopathological brain degenerations were also shown in AD-model group exposed to stress. EGCG showed more marked protective effect than Diazepam from stress-potentiated the deleterious effect of AlCl3 on the brain, however Co-administration of both resulted in more pronounced protection as regarding all measured parameters. Conclusions: Exposure to stress represents a risk factor in induction and progression of AD. The deleterious effect of stress on the brain and hippocampus can be counteracted by Co-administration of both EGCG and Diazepam.
Alzheimer’s disease; Stress; EGCG; Diazepam; Rats
Ali AA, Ahmed HI, Zaky HS. Stress as a Risk Factor in Induction and Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease: Impact on the Possible Protection Using Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and/ or Diazepam. Ann Clin Toxicol. 2018; 1(1): 1003.