Due to the increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years, the eventual goal of nerve repair is very important.\r\nOne approach for achieving a neuronal cell induction is by regenerative pharmacology. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain\r\nderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are neurotrophins that play roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and protection.\r\nOn the other hand, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid which has multiple actions in the nervous system. DHEA\r\ncould be an important agent in regenerative pharmacology for neuronal differentiation during tissue regeneration. In this study,\r\nwe investigated the possible role of DHEA to modulate NGF and BDNF production. The in vivo level of neurotrophins expression\r\nwas demonstrated by ELISA in rat harvested brain cortex. Also neurotrophins expression after DHEA treatment was revealed by\r\nthe increased neurite extension, immunostaining, and BrdU labeling in rats. Anti-NGF and anti-BDNF antibodies were used as\r\nsuppressive agents on neurogenesis. The results showed that NGF and BDNF are overproduced after DHEA treatment but there is\r\nnot any overexpression for NT-3 and NT-4. Also DHEA increased neurite extension and neural cell proliferation significantly.\r\nOverall, DHEA might induce NGF and BDNF neurotrophins overproduction in cortical neurons which promotes neural cell\r\nprotection, survival, and proliferation.
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