Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are commonly used metal oxides. Betaine possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. The current study aimed to investigate the neurotoxic effect of CuO-NPs on rats and the capability of betaine to mitigate neurotoxicity. Forty rats; 4 groups: group I a control, group II intraperitoneally CuO-NPs (0.5 mg/kg/day), group III orally betaine (250 mg/kg/day) and CuO-NPs, group IV orally betaine for 28 days. Rats were subjected to neurobehavioral assessments. Brain samples were processed for biochemical, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses. Behavioral performance of betaine demonstrated increasing locomotion and cognitive abilities. Group II exhibited significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA), overexpression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Significant decrease in glutathione (GSH), and downregulation of acetylcholine esterase (AChE), nuclear factor erythroid 2-like protein 2 (Nrf-2), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Histopathological alterations; neuronal degeneration, pericellular spaces, and neuropillar vacuolation. Immunohistochemically, an intense immunoreactivity is observed against IL-1β and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Betaine partially neuroprotected against CuO-NPs associated alterations. A significant decrease at MDA, downregulation of IL-1β, and TNF-α, a significant increase at GSH, and upregulation of AChE, Nrf-2, and SOD. Histopathological alterations partially ameliorated. Immunohistochemical intensity of IL-1β and GFAP reduced. It is concluded that betaine neuroprotected against most of CuO-NP neurotoxic effects through antioxidant and cell redox system stimulating efficacy.

中文翻译：

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甜菜碱对氧化铜纳米颗粒诱导的白化大鼠大脑神经毒性的神经保护评估：组织病理学、神经化学和分子研究

氧化铜纳米颗粒（CuO-NP）是常用的金属氧化物。甜菜碱具有抗氧化和神经保护活性。本研究旨在探讨 CuO-NPs 对大鼠的神经毒性作用以及甜菜碱减轻神经毒性的能力。四十只老鼠； 4组：I组为对照组，II组腹腔注射CuO-NPs（0.5mg/kg/天），III组口服甜菜碱（250mg/kg/天）和CuO-NPs，IV组口服甜菜碱28天。对大鼠进行神经行为评估。对脑样本进行处理以进行生化、分子、组织病理学和免疫组织化学分析。甜菜碱的行为表现表明运动能力和认知能力有所提高。第二组的丙二醛（MDA）显着升高，白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）过度表达。谷胱甘肽 (GSH) 显着减少，乙酰胆碱酯酶 (AChE)、核因子类红细胞 2 蛋白 2 (Nrf-2) 和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 下调。组织病理学改变；神经元变性、细胞周间隙和神经柱空泡化。免疫组织化学上，观察到针对 IL-1β 和胶质纤维酸性蛋白 (GFAP) 的强烈免疫反应性。甜菜碱对 CuO-NP 相关的改变具有部分神经保护作用。 MDA 显着降低，IL-1β 和 TNF-α 下调，GSH 显着增加，AChE、Nrf-2 和 SOD 上调。组织病理学改变部分改善。 IL-1β和GFAP的免疫组织化学强度降低。结论是，甜菜碱通过抗氧化和细胞氧化还原系统刺激功效，对大多数 CuO-NP 神经毒性作用具有神经保护作用。