The Effect of Crocin on Cognition and Necrosis Cell Death in the Hippocampus Area in the Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Male Rats

Experimental and clinical studies have shown that postpartum alcohol exposure causes inflammation in the hippocampus among other areas of the brain. On the other hand, alcohol consumption during pregnancy will cause inflammatory oxidative activation along with extensive apoptotic neurodegenerative disease in brain areas. Different areas of the brain are like the hippocampus. Crocin is the main active ingredient and dye in saffron, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects and can protect the nerves. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of crocin administration on memory disorders and cell death of necrosis of the hippocampus in the model of alcoholic fetal syndrome. 72 male neonates of male rats on the second day after birth, randomly divided into six groups (12 in each group) including control, sham group, ethanol group and ethanol + Crocin treatment groups) doses of 15, 30 and 45 mg/kg). From the second to the tenth day of birth, ethanol was received at a dose of 5.25 g/kg of milk powder solution, which was divided into two doses of 2.62 g/kg, twice a day for two hours by gavage. Using the novel object recognition test, hippocampal-dependent memory and distance learning were assessed at 36 days after birth. Nissel staining was also used to evaluate cell death. The results of the present study showed that crocin administration significantly reduced ethanol-induced cognitive deficits (p<0.01). Ethanol-induced necrotic cell death was also significantly reduced by crocin administration (p<0.01). Protective effects of Crocin against ethanol-induced neurotoxicity in the model of alcoholic fetal syndrome, this substance can be considered as a potential treatment for ethanol-induced complications during development.