Authors Affiliation(s)
- Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, INDIA
Can J Biotech, Volume 1, Special Issue-Supplement, Page 278, DOI: https://doi.org/10.24870/cjb.2017-a262
Presenting author: sandeepcbt@gmail.com
Abstract
Myelin disorders can be due to diverse mechanisms such as autoimmune, parainfectious, metabolic or toxic. The prototype of immune mediated demyelination is multiple sclerosis. To understand the underlying mechanism of cell damage in vitamin b12 deficiency, a number of animal models have been used which include total gastrectomy (TGX), cobalamine deficient diet and N2O exposure (Tredici G, et al., 1998;Scalabrino G, 2001). Six adult wistar male rats were exposed to N2O oxygen mixture in 1:1 ratio at a rate of 2 L/min for 120 min for 60 days. The control rats received only oxygen and room air. At the end of exposure, spontaneous locomotor activity (total distance travelled, time resting, time moving, number of rearing, stereotypic count) and grip strength. Plasma glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and serum malonodialdehyde (MDA) and serum homocysteine (Hcy) were measured by spectrophotometer. Glutamate in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum was measured by colorimetry. Immunohistochemistry for GFAP expression in brain and spinal cord was done and quantified using image J software. The N2O exposed rats had significant reduction in total distance travelled, time moving, number of rearing and increased time resting compared to the controls. Hcy, glutamate and MDA levels were increased, and GSH and TAC decreased in N2O exposed group compared to the controls. GFAP was more expressed in N2O exposed group, and its expression was higher in spinal cord compared to brain. The GFAP expression correlated with neurobehavioral changes, oxidative stress and glutamate level.N2O toxicity results in GFAP expression suggesting astrocytic reaction, which is mediated by oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.