Effect of crocin on histological changes of hippocampus and memory impairment induced by scopolamine in male rats

Alzheimer is the most common form of dementia in elderly persons. Oxidative stress is one of the main pathological factors in Alzheimer’s disease. This study was done to investigate the effect of crosin on histological changes of hippocampus and memory impairment which induced by scopolamine in the male rats.

In this experimental study, 30 male rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups including: control, scopolamine and scopolamine with crosin treated groups. Scopolamine with dose of 3 mg/kg/bw for one week and crocin with dose of 30mg/kg for two weeks were administered, intraperitoneally. The learning and spatial memory parameters were evaluated by Morris water maze test. Then the animals were sacrificed and their hippocampi were removed immediately for histological evaluation.

Scopolamine injection causes significantly increased the number of dark cells in CA1 region of hippocampus in compared to control group (P<0.05). Treatment with crocin decreased dark cells and increased light cells number in CA1 region of hippocampus (P<0.05). Also treatment with crocin decreased memory impairment that induced by scopolamine in rats (P<0.05).

It seems that treatment with crocin has protective effects against neuronal damage of CA1 region of hippocampus and memory impairment that induced by scopolamine.