CREB Protein Expressed Differently in the Frontal Cortices of Datura stramonium Treated Rats: Implication for Addiction and Neurodegeneration
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Date
2016-05
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Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing
Abstract
Background: cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is one of the cellular transcription
factors found in neurons. CREB is also important for the survival of neurons, and has an important
role in the development of drug addiction. Datura stramonium (DS) is a tropical ubiquitous plant
commonly used to increase the intoxication of certain beverages for recreational purposes. The
seeds of this plant are very toxic and may produce addiction on prolong usage. This research investigated
the effects of administration of high doses of DS seeds on the expression of CREB protein
in both male and female rats’ frontal cortices and its implication in addiction and neurodegeneration.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with a total of 24 male and female
Wistar rats weighing 200 g - 250 g. The rats were divided into three groups of 8 rats each. Each
group was further divided into four sub-groups of 2 rats each. Ethanolic dried seed extract of DS
was diluted in normal saline and administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) to the treatment groups.
The treated sub-groups received 750 mg/kg of DS extract once in group 1, twice in group 2 and
thrice in group 3 daily for 4 weeks respectively, while the control sub-groups received i.p. normal
saline concurrently for the same duration of time. The rats were euthanized and an analysis of
variance (ANOVA) was computed to detect a significant main difference of DS effect on CREB expression
for each group, while post hoc Bonferroni Test compared CREB protein expression
between male and female groups. Result: There were significant differences in the expression of
CREB protein between the sub-groups and between the male and female rats of treated sub-group
(p < 0.05) compared to the controls. There was a decrease in the female treated sub-groups and an
increase in the male treated sub-groups compared to the respective controls. Conclusion: Highdoses of DS administration for a prolong time may affect the expressions of CREB protein differently in male and female treated rats which may consequently lead to addiction and neuro degeneration affecting frontal cortex neurons.
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Keywords
CREB Protein, Datura stramonium, Wistar Rats, Frontal Cortices, Neurons, Neurodegeneration, Addiction
Citation
Ekanem, P.E., Sunday, D.S. and Gaim, K. (2016) CREB Protein Expressed Differently in the Frontal Cortices of Datura stramonium Treated Rats: Implication for Addiction and Neurodegeneration. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 6, 209-218. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jbbs.2016.65021