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Prepubertal Repeated Berberine Supplementation Enhances Cerebrocerebellar Functions by Modulating Neurochemical and
Solomon Owumi1, Joseph Chimezie2, Moses Otunla3
1Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 200005, Oyo State, Nigeria. owumisa@hotmail.com.
Insights
Berberine (BER) supplementation enhanced cerebrocerebellar function in prepubertal rats by improving motor behavior and increasing antioxidant enzyme activity. BER also reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting neuroprotective effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Antioxidant-rich diets are crucial for mammalian central nervous system function.
- The impact of berberine (BER) on cerebrocerebellar function in prepubertal rats remains uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of BER supplementation on neurochemical and behavioral changes in prepubertal male rats.
- To assess BER's impact on antioxidant status, oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuronal integrity.
Main Methods:
- Rats were orally administered varying doses of BER (25-200 mg/kg) from postnatal day 28 to 68.
- Behavioral assessments included open field, hanging wire, and negative geotaxis tests.
- Neurochemical analyses measured antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative/inflammatory markers, and Nissl cell counts.
Main Results:
- BER improved locomotive and motor behaviors, including increased distance traveled and average speed.
- BER supplementation elevated antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH) and reduced oxidative/inflammatory markers (RONS, LPO, TNF-α).
- BER treatment led to fewer dark-stained Nissl cells, indicating reduced neuronal degeneration.
Conclusions:
- Berberine supplementation demonstrates neuroprotective effects in prepubertal rats.
- BER enhances cerebrocerebellar function by improving behavior, boosting antioxidant defenses, and mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation.
- These effects may be mediated by the agonistic activity of BER on PPAR-α, PPAR-δ, and PPAR-γ.
Abstract:
Antioxidant-rich supplementation plays an essential role in the function of mammals' central nervous system. However, no research has documented the effect of berberine (BER) supplementation on the cerebrocerebellar function of prepubertal rats. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of BER supplementation on neurochemical and behavioural changes in prepubertal male rats. Five groups (90 ± 5 g, n = 7 each) of experimental rats were orally treated with corn oil or different doses of BER (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw) from the 28th at 68 post-natal days. On the 69 days of life, animals underwent behavioural assessment in the open field, hanging wire, and negative geotaxis tests. The result revealed that BER administration improved locomotive and motor behaviour by increasing distance travelled, line crossings, average speed, time mobile, and absolute turn angle in open field test and decrease in time to re-orient on an incline plane, a decrease in immobility time relative to the untreated control. Furthermore, BER supplementation increased (p < 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities such as SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH, and TSH and prevented increases (p < 0.05) in oxidative and inflammatory levels as indicated by decreases in RONS, LPO, XO, carbonyl protein, NO, MPO, and TNF-α compared to the untreated control. BER-treated animals a lessened number of dark-stained Nissl cells compared to the untreated control rats. Our findings revealed that BER minimised neuronal degeneration and lesions, improved animal behaviour, and suppressed oxidative and inflammatory mediators, which may probably occur through its agonistic effect on PPAR-α, PPAR-δ, and PPAR-γ - essential proteins known to resolve inflammation and modulate redox signalling towards antioxidant function.
