Objective: This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of curcumin on the hippocampal-pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) axis in a rotenone-induced rat model of PD.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to motor deficits and non-motor symptoms, including cognitive decline.These findings demonstrate that curcumin exerts multimodal neuroprotection in a rotenone-induced PD model, preserving neuronal integrity and stabilizing hippocampal-PPN circuitry.

Method: A chronic Parkinson’s disease model was established in male albino rats via daily intraperitoneal injections of rotenone (2 mg/kg) for 9 weeks. A separate cohort received concurrent curcumin treatment (200 mg/kg) throughout the same period. Neuroprotective effects were assessed through histological analysis of the hippocampus and PPN. Additionally, in vivo electrophysiological recordings were performed to evaluate hippocampal functional connectivity in response to high-frequency stimulation (100 Hz) of the PPN.

Results: Histological examination revealed that curcumin treatment significantly preserved neuronal density in both the hippocampal and PPN regions compared to rotenone-only controls. Electrophysiologically, curcumin modulated hippocampal responses to PPN high-frequency stimulation, suggesting a stabilization of this critical neural circuitry, which is often disrupted in PD.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that curcumin exerts multimodal neuroprotection in a rotenone-induced PD model, preserving neuronal integrity and stabilizing hippocampal-PPN circuitry.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neuroprotective-effects-of-curcumin-on-hippocampal-ppn-circuitry-in-a-rotenone-induced-rat-model-of-parkinsons-disease/