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Cisplatin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with impaired cognitive function in rats
Naomi Lomeli1, Kaijun Di2, Jennifer Czerniawski3
1Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine
|December 3, 2016
Summary
Chemotherapy can cause cognitive impairment, but N-acetylcysteine may help. This study found cisplatin damages brain cells and impairs memory, while N-acetylcysteine shows protective effects against these chemotherapy side effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
Background:
- Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) presents significant neurological challenges with no current effective treatments.
- Cisplatin, a common chemotherapeutic agent, is known to induce CRCI, necessitating research into its underlying mechanisms and potential mitigation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of cisplatin-induced hippocampal damage in a rat model and in vitro neuronal cultures.
- To evaluate the neuroprotective potential of N-acetylcysteine against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive deficits.
Main Methods:
- Chronic cisplatin administration in rats, alongside N-acetylcysteine treatment, followed by cognitive behavioral testing.
- In vitro analysis of cisplatin-treated hippocampal neurons and neural stem cells (NSCs) assessing mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.
- Evaluation of dendritic branching and spine density in neuronal cultures.
Main Results:
- Cisplatin induced significant cognitive impairments in rats across multiple memory tasks.
- In vitro, cisplatin triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress, activated caspase-9, and reduced dendritic spine density.
- N-acetylcysteine treatment mitigated oxidative stress, apoptosis, and dendritic spine loss, partially reversing cognitive deficits.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are key mechanisms underlying cisplatin-induced cognitive impairments.
- N-acetylcysteine demonstrates therapeutic potential in ameliorating the neurotoxic effects of cisplatin, offering a promising avenue for CRCI management.
