Effects of Crocin on brain neurotrophins, cognition, balance and pain in toxic-induced demyelination model.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Crocin on brain neuroterophins, cognition, sensory and motor dysfunction and compare to fingolimod effects in toxic-induced demyelination with Ethidium Bromide EB in female Wistar rats.

Methods: Animals were assigned in to 8 groups; Sham, Sham operated (ShOp), EAE, crocin treated, Vehicle, Fingolompd (Fing) and fingolimod + crocin (Cr+Fing). Demyelination was induced by single dose injection of 10 μl of EB 0.1 percent into the fourth ventricle of the brain. Crocin and fingolimod were administered for 21 days, daily, oral gavage. BDNF, NGF1, tail flake latency, balance and behavioral variables were sampled and analyzed by paired t-test and ANOVA test with repeated post hoc measurements.

Results: The results showed that crocin improves all studied factors, but remarkable improvements were observed in dosage of 10 mg/kg. Crocin (10mg/kg) and fingolimod (1mg/kg) significantly improved cognition variables in open field test, sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity, tail flick latency and clinical scores (p less than 005). In addition, applying of crocin co-administered with fingolimod led to significant increases in all assessed factors, greater than crocin or fingolimod intervention alone.

Conclusion: Based on the current findings, crocin can improve the level of brain neurotrophins, exploratory behavior, balance and pain after toxin-demyelination as close as fingolimod results.