Neuroprotective effects of celastrol on sciatic nerve transection model in male Wistar rats

Celastrol is an herbal compound with neuroprotective properties. Our research aimed to assess the neuroprotective properties of celastrol on sciatic nerve transection in rats.

The rats’ left sciatic nerve was cut and sutured directly. The animals were then given 1 or 2 mg/kg celastrol intraperitoneally for two weeks. The sensory and locomotor behaviors of the animals were then evaluated for 16 weeks. Immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and real-time PCR were also utilized to evaluate macrophage polarization, cytokine secretion, and neurotrophin expression in injured nerves. 

Results showed that both doses of celastrol significantly accelerated nerve regeneration and improved sensorimotor functional recovery when compared with controls. Nevertheless, administration of 2 mg/kg of celastrol significantly outperforms treatment with a dose of 1 mg/kg. Celastrol treatment-induced M2 polarization in macrophages decreased proinflammatory cytokines at the injury site. It also increased the expression of BDNF mRNA.

These findings suggest that a two-week treatment with celastrol had neuroprotective effects in a rat sciatic nerve transection model, most likely by inducing macrophage M2 polarization and anti-inflammatory effects.