Protective effect of short-term thymoquinone administration on the central nervous system in cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity

M.A. Durak, O. Ozhan, A. Yildiz, M. Durhan, N. Vardi, Y. Cigremis, H. Parlakpinar

Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Medical Biology and Genetic, Medical School, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey. akif.durak@inonu.edu.tr

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• Neurosurgery

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the potential beneficial effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on brain tissue based on biochemical and histopathological analyses in cisplatin (CIS) treated rats with central nervous system (CNS) neurotoxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 8 rats in each group (n:8). Group 1: (Control), saline was administered for 3 days at a volume of 0.5 ml per day intraperitoneal (i.p.). Group 2: (CIS Group), one dose of CIS was administered (7 mg/kg i.p.). Group 3: (TQ Group), TQ was given at a dose of 5 mg/kg per day for 3 days (i.p.). Group 4: (CIS+TQ Group), one dose of 7 mg/kg was initiated half an hour before administration of CIS and one dose of 5 mg/kg per day was administered TQ i.p. for 3 days.

RESULTS: Malondialdehyde levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in the CIS group compared to the control group. Degenerative changes observed in the CIS+TQ group were found to be milder than in the CIS group. In the CIS+TQ group, a statistically significant decrease in the severity of caspase-3 immunoreactivity was found when compared to the CIS group. It was found that the severity of neurofilament immunoreactivity monitored in neuronal extensions was similar in all groups. In the CIS+TQ group, the severity of tau protein’s immunoreactivity was similar to that of the CIS-group.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained in our study, beneficial effects were obtained in reducing neurotoxicity with short-term TQ application in rats treated with CIS treatment.

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