Objective To investigate the effects of asparagus decoction on the expressions of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain tissues of rats exposed to fluoride.
Methods Sixty clean SD rats were randomly divided into control group (corn feed), fluoride group (fluoride 50mg/kg), asparagus low-dose treatment group (asparagus 2.5 g/kg + fluoride 50 mg/kg), asparagus moderate-dose treatment group (asparagus 5 g/kg + fluoride 50 mg/kg), and asparagus high-dose treatment group (asparagus 10 g/kg + fluoride 50 mg/kg), with 12 rats in each group, half male and half female. The rats were exposed to fluoride by free feeding and administered by gavage with asparagus decoction, once a day, 1 mL/time, for three continuously months. Brain SIRT1 and BDNF mRNA and protein levels were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.
Results The levels of SITR1 and BDNF mRNA and protein in brains of rats exposed to fluoride and different doses of asparagus were lower than those in the control group (Ps < 0.05). The levels of SITR1 and BDNF mRNA and protein in brains of the moderateand high-dose asparagus treatment groups were lower than those in the fluoride group (Ps < 0.05). The levels of SITR1 and BDNF mRNA and protein in rat brains increased gradually with increasing asparagus dose (P < 0.05). Under optical microscopy, reduced astrocytes in the brain tissues of rats exposed to fluoride were observed, as well as swollen cells and disappearing nucleolus, showing obvious damage; increasing astrocytes in the brain tissues of rats treated with asparagus were observed, as well as clear nucleolus compared with the fluoride group.
Conclusion Asparagus at designed doses has a protective effect on brain tissues post floride exposure, and the mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of mRNA and protein levels of SITR1 and BDNF in brain tissues of rats exposed to fluoride.
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