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Neuroprotective Effect of Melatonin Against PCBs Induced Behavioural, Molecular and Histological Changes in Cerebral Cortex of Adult Male Wistar Rats

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Abstract

There is ample evidence stating Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as neurotoxins. In the current study, we have analyzed the behavioural impact of PCBs exposure in adult rats and assessed the simultaneous effect of antioxidant melatonin against the PCBs action. The rats were grouped into four and treated intraperitoneally with vehicle, PCBs, PCBs + melatonin and melatonin alone for 30 days, respectively. After the treatment period the rats were tested for locomotor activity and anxiety behaviour analysis. We confirmed the neuronal damage in the cerebral cortex by molecular and histological analysis. Our data indicates that there is impairment in locomotor activity and behaviour of PCBs treated rats compared to control. The simultaneous melatonin treated rat shows increased motor coordination and less anxiety like behaviour compared to PCBs treated rats. Molecular and histological analysis supports that, the impaired motor coordination in PCBs treated rats is due to neurodegeneration in motor cortex region. The results proved that melatonin treatment improved the motor co-ordination and reduced anxiety behaviour, prevented neurodegeneration in the cerebral cortex of PCBs-exposed adult male rats.

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Acknowledgements

The financial assistance from University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India, New Delhi to Dr. J. Arunakaran is greatly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, 600 113, India

    S. Bavithra & J. Arunakaran

  2. Department of Physiology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, 600 113, India

    L. Sundareswaran

  3. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kauvery Hospital and Billroth Hospitals, Chennai, India

    K. Selvakumar

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  1. S. Bavithra
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Correspondence to J. Arunakaran.

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Bavithra, S., Selvakumar, K., Sundareswaran, L. et al. Neuroprotective Effect of Melatonin Against PCBs Induced Behavioural, Molecular and Histological Changes in Cerebral Cortex of Adult Male Wistar Rats. Neurochem Res 42, 428–438 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-016-2087-6

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