Neuroprotective effects of celastrol on sciatic nerve transection model in male Wistar rats

Objective(s): Celastrol is an herbal compound with neuroprotective properties. Our research aimed to assess the neuroprotective properties of celastrol on sciatic nerve transection in rats.Materials and Methods: The rats’ left sciatic nerve was cut and sutured directly. The animals were then given ۱ or ۲ mg/kg celastrol intraperitoneally for two weeks. The sensory and locomotor behaviors of the animals were then evaluated for ۱۶ weeks. Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and real-time PCR were also utilized to evaluate macrophage polarization, cytokine secretion, and neurotrophin expression in injured nerves. Results: Results showed that both doses of celastrol significantly accelerated nerve regeneration and improved sensorimotor functional recovery when compared with controls. Nevertheless, administration of ۲ mg/kg of celastrol significantly outperforms treatment with a dose of ۱ mg/kg. Celastrol treatment-induced M۲ polarization in macrophages decreased proinflammatory cytokines at the injury site. It also increased the expression of BDNF mRNA.Conclusion: These findings suggest that a two-week treatment with celastrol had neuroprotective effects in a rat sciatic nerve transection model, most likely by inducing macrophage M۲ polarization and anti-inflammatory effects.

کلیدواژه ها:

Celastrol ، Cytokine ، Inflammation ، Macrophage ، Sciatic nerve