Ghrelin ameliorates neuronal damage, oxidative stress, inflammatory parameters, and GFAP expression in traumatic brain injury.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of ghrelin on oxidative stress, working memory, inflammatory parameters, and neuron degeneration.

Methods: TBI was produced with the weight-drop technique. Rats in the G+TBI and TBI+G groups received ghrelin for 7 or 2 days, respectively. The control group received saline. On the 8 day of the study, the brain and blood tissue were taken under anesthesia.

Results: A significant increase in brain GSH-PX, MDA, IL-1β, TGF-β1, and IL-8 levels and a significant decrease in CAT levels were found in the TBI group compared to the control. Serum MDA, GSH, IL-1β, and IL-8 levels were increased with TBI. Ghrelin treatment after TBI significantly increased the serum GSH, CAT, GSH-PX, and brain GSH and CAT levels, while it significantly decreased the serum MDA, IL-1β, and brain MDA, TGF-β1, and IL-8 levels. Histological evaluations revealed that ghrelin treatment led to a reduction in inflammation, while also significantly ameliorating TBI-induced neuron damage and vascular injuries. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that GFAP staining intensity was significantly increased in the cortex and hippocampus in TBI, and GFAP immunoreactivity was decreased with ghrelin treatment.

Conclusion: The results from this study suggested that ghrelin may have curative effects on TBI.