Pharmacological Evaluation of Shogaol on Synaptic Impairment in High Fat Diet and Metals Exposed Mice

Abstract

The normal function of the brain is based on millions of neurons found in the central nervous system (CNS). Research in both humans and animals have revealed that two brain areas, the hippocampus and cortex are essential for the encoding and retrieval of episodic memories. Exposure to different metals in the environment and excessive consumption of high-fat diet is responsible for the impairment of learning and memory storage process. Lead, arsenic and aluminum exposure is mostly reported to be involved in this impairment. Moreover, Synaptic proteins play crucial role in the process of learning and memory. Aim of the proposed study is to analyze the effects of Shogaol on memory impairment in High Fat Diet and Metals Exposed Mice. In the current study, we have employed gene expression analysis of synaptic genes (CAMK4, SYN and PSD 95) and histopathology and cell counting in the regions of cortex and hippocampus to evaluate neurodegeneration due to metals and HFD exposure. This study suggested that metals and HFD significantly down regulated the expression of selected synaptic genes while both the doses of Shogaol improved their expression. Neurodegeneration was observed through histopathological examination along with significant decrease in neuronal cell count in hippocampus and cortex, while Shogaol helped to retain the cell number. In conclusion it can be suggested that Shogaol has beneficial pharmacological effects and can be further evaluated.