Efeitos neuroprotetores e anti-inflamatórios do óleo de copaíba (Copaifera reticulata Ducke) em ratos adultos submetidos a isquemia do córtex motor por microinfecções de Edotelina-1

Abstract

Stroke is a neural disorder caused by interruption of blood flow in vessels that irrigate the brain (ischemic stroke) or rupture of these (hemorrhagic stroke), causing cognitive, sensory and / or motor deficits. With the exception of thrombolytic use, which has a very narrow therapeutic window and is little used, there are no other pharmacological treatments or cellular therapy available for this pathological condition. Thus, it is necessary to search for new treatments, such as the development of neuroprotective agents. The Amazon is a rich source of natural products, but its therapeutic actions for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) have been little investigated. In this work, we have investigated the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory actions of copaiba oil-resin (COR). Adult Wistar rats were submitted to focal ischemia by microinjections (80pMol/μl) of endothelin-1 (ET-1) directly into the motor cortex and were treated with daily doses of COR (400mg / kg) or 5% tween. The animals were perfused at 7 days after the injury. The histopathological analysis was performed by Nissl staining (brain) and hematoxylin-eosin (liver and kidneys). Immunohistochemistry was performed for labeling of neurons (anti-NeuN), astrocytes (anti-S100) and caspase (anti-caspase-3). Morphometry showed a reduction in the lesion size area (copaiba-treated animals (15.96 ± 1.53 mm2); control animals (28.82 ± 2.65 mm2). Histopathological examination of the liver and kidneys did not find changes indicative of toxicity. In the quantitative analysis, neuronal preservation was observed, but no statistical difference was noticed between the groups regarding astrocytes analysis (S100+ cells). The COR-treated group showed an increase in caspase-3 expression. It is concluded that COR may play a neuroprotective role, contributing to neuronal survival in the area of ischemic penumbra, but future work is needed to find out the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.