Neuroprotective effects of Cannabis sativa alcoholic extract against spinal alpha motoneurons degeneration in male type II diabetic rats

Diabetic neourophaty is one of the long-term usual outcomes of diabetes. According to anti-tumor، anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant effects of Cannabis sativa، the aim of this research was to investigate the effect of Cannabis sativa alcoholic extract on Alpha motoneurons degeneration after sciatic nerve compression in diabetic rats. This experimental laboratorial research was performed in 30 Wistar male rats with the weight of 300 to 350g in 5 “control”، “compression”، “compression+diabetes”، “compression+diabetes+treatment with 25mg/kg alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa seed” and “compression+diabetes+treatment with 50mg/kg alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa seed” groups. After preparing the alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa seed، 18 rats were undergone diabetes induction and 24 rats were taken compression surgery. Spinal cord samples were taken from all 30 rats. Data was analyzed by Minitab 14 software and ANOVA test. Neuronal density of “compression” group (789 ± 28) was decreased significantly in comparison with “control” group (1766 ± 70). There was a significant difference between neuronal density of “compression” group and “compression+diabetes” (543 ± 14) group. Comparison of neuronal density between “compression+diabetes” group and rats treated with 25 and 50mg/kg doses of ethanolic extracts showed significant differences; in both treated groups، the neuronal density was increased compare to “compression” and “compression+diabetic” groups. Using alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa as a neuroprotective agent can prevent the progression of neural system disorders as a result of hyperglycemia.