Objective: In this study we firstly investigated the effect of prenatal exposure of rats to lead (3g/l) from neonatal to adult age, on the motor/sensory performances, excitability of spinal cord during development. Also, we evaluated the protective effect of curcumin against lead neurotoxicity.

Background: Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal with no apparent biological function. It is known to cause different damages in the central and peripheral nervous system which could be represented by several neurophysiological and behavioral symptoms.

Methods: Wistar rats were divided into control, Pb intoxicated and/or treated with curcumin groups. Pb intoxicated rats were prenatally to lead (3g/l) from neonatal to adult age, while curcumin treated rats were administered curcumin solution (30 mg/kg B.W in olive oil by gavage) concomitantly with Pb in drinking water. Using behavioral tests (grasping, cliff avoidance) and electrophysiological trial we evaluated, respectively, the impairment of the sensorimotor functions and the excitability of spinal neuronal networks implicated in the control of locomotion.

Results: The electrophysiological study showed a hyper-excitability of the spinal neuronal networks in Pb-treated pups. At the young age, rats exhibit an impaired locomotor gait. All these abnormalities were attenuated by curcumin.

Conclusions: The present finding showed, for the first time, that curcumin was a potent chemical compound able to restore the neuronal and the subsequent locomotor behaviors induced by lead intoxication, and then can be used as a possible pharmacological issue for neurotoxicity related to heavy metals even in preventing neurotoxicity during development.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sensorimotor-impairments-and-the-excitability-of-spinal-cord-in-lead-intoxicated-rat-during-development-and-a-potent-restorative-effect-of-curcumin/