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Intrastriatal Injection of Autologous Blood or Clostridial Collagenase as Murine Models of Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Published on: July 3, 2014
Liposomal curcumin nanocarrier ameliorates synaptic dysfunction after intracerebral hemorrhage
Kianoush Saberi1, Nikki Ghadiminia2, Abdumalik Mamataliyev3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Faculty, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. laftaalihussein@gmail.com.
Background:
Neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) contribute to cognitive impairment after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Curcumin, a natural polyphenol from Curcuma longa, has anti-inflammatory properties but limited bioavailability.
Methods:
Liposomal curcumin (Lipo-Cur, 103.2 nm, 74% encapsulation) was prepared by thin-film hydration. Adult male rats were assigned to Sham, ICH (collagenase + empty liposomes), and ICH-Cur (collagenase + Lipo-Cur, 30 mg/kg, i.p. at 2, 24, 48 h post-surgery). On day 7, we assessed NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome activation, BDNF/TrkB/CREB/Erk signaling, PSD-95 expression, neuronal survival (Nissl staining), and working memory (Y-maze).
Results:
Lipo-Cur significantly suppressed NLRP3/caspase-1, restored p-CREB/CREB and p-TrkB/TrkB, normalized p-Erk/Erk, and upregulated PSD-95 (all p < 0.01). It also reduced neuronal loss, restored BDNF (p < 0.05), attenuated NLRP3 (p < 0.01), and improved Y-maze alternation (p < 0.001) without affecting locomotion.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that liposomal curcumin exerts neuroprotective effects in the mPFC after ICH, likely through mechanisms involving suppression of NLRP3/caspase-1 and enhancement of BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling. This supports its potential as a natural product-based therapeutic for stroke-induced cognitive impairment, though further mechanistic studies are warranted.