BACKGROUND Cerebellar ataxias comprise a group of terminal illnesses with ataxia as the main symptom. Curcumin as a yellow polyphenol was extracted from the rhizome ofCurcuma longa. Owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-tumor features, curcumin is considered as a potential therapeutic agent. AIM In this study, we aim to investigate the neuroprotective effects of oral administration of curcumin on a rat model of cerebellar ataxia induced by neurotoxin 3-acetylpyridine. METHODS The animals were randomly separated into three groups (control, 3-acetylpyridine, and curcumin + 3-acetylpyridine). Next, motor performance and muscle electromyography activity were assessed. Then, in the molecular part of the study, the anti-apoptotic role of curcumin in cerebellar ataxia and its relationship to protection of Purkinje cells were investigated. RESULTS Curcumin treatment improved motor coordination and muscular activity, reduced cleaved caspase-3, and increased glutathione level in 3-AP-lesioned rats as well as total volumes of cerebellar granular and molecular layers. CONCLUSION the present study implies that curcumin might have neuroprotective effects to counteract neurotoxicity of 3-AP-induced ataxia.

中文翻译：

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姜黄素保护浦肯野神经元，改善运动功能，减轻 3-AP 诱导小脑共济失调大鼠模型的小脑萎缩

背景技术小脑性共济失调是一组以共济失调为主要症状的绝症。姜黄素是一种黄色多酚，是从姜黄的根茎中提取的。由于其抗氧化、抗炎、抗纤维化和抗肿瘤的特性，姜黄素被认为是一种潜在的治疗剂。目的 在本研究中，我们旨在研究口服姜黄素对神经毒素 3-乙酰吡啶诱导的小脑共济失调大鼠模型的神经保护作用。方法将动物随机分为三组（对照组、3-乙酰吡啶和姜黄素+3-乙酰吡啶）。接下来，评估运动表现和肌肉肌电图活动。然后，在研究的分子部分，姜黄素在小脑性共济失调中的抗凋亡作用及其与浦肯野细胞保护的关系进行了研究。结果姜黄素治疗改善了运动协调性和肌肉活动，减少了 caspase-3 裂解，并增加了 3-AP 损伤大鼠的谷胱甘肽水平以及小脑颗粒层和分子层的总体积。结论 本研究暗示姜黄素可能具有神经保护作用，以抵消 3-AP 诱导的共济失调的神经毒性。