Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus

Background: Opium addiction can affect various organs such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain. The hippocampus is one of the brain regions affected early on in Alzheimer's disease and has a vital role in neurogenesis, cognitive function, and memory. This region also is sensitive to oxid...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ebrahim Abbasi, Fatemeh Mirzaei, Sodabeh Mashayekhi, Iraj Khodadadi, Alireza Komaki, Nafiseh Faraji, Seyed Alireza Vafaii
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825000809
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850183811685416960
author Ebrahim Abbasi
Fatemeh Mirzaei
Sodabeh Mashayekhi
Iraj Khodadadi
Alireza Komaki
Nafiseh Faraji
Seyed Alireza Vafaii
author_facet Ebrahim Abbasi
Fatemeh Mirzaei
Sodabeh Mashayekhi
Iraj Khodadadi
Alireza Komaki
Nafiseh Faraji
Seyed Alireza Vafaii
author_sort Ebrahim Abbasi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Opium addiction can affect various organs such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain. The hippocampus is one of the brain regions affected early on in Alzheimer's disease and has a vital role in neurogenesis, cognitive function, and memory. This region also is sensitive to oxidative stress and pathophysiological alterations. Hence, this study evaluated the effects of opium on memory and learning, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of male addicted rats. Since, the hormonal alterations in female arts can affect immune response, metabolism, and behavior, we have selected male rats. Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and opium addicts. Animals received opium (40 mg/kg) for one month. Then, naloxone (2 mg⁄kg), a morphine antagonist, was injected intraperitoneally to confirm addiction. The activities and gene expressions of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GPr), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by ELISA and Real-time PCR, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative state (TOS), glutathione, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, as well as hippocampus histopathology were assessed. Memory and learning were determined by water maze shuttle box tests. Results: The TAC and glutathione levels were decreased, while MDA and TOS increased (P < 0.05) in addicted animals. The gene expressions and activities of GPX, GPr, and SOD decreased in opium-treated animals when compared to control (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed structural changes in the hippocampal in the opium group. Opium also impaired memory and learning in animals (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Opium consumption has a detrimental effect on hippocampus function and structure.
format Article
id doaj-art-c64ee3d5fde64c87afd54cfd761abea8
institution OA Journals
issn 2405-5808
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
spelling doaj-art-c64ee3d5fde64c87afd54cfd761abea82025-08-20T02:17:13ZengElsevierBiochemistry and Biophysics Reports2405-58082025-06-014210199310.1016/j.bbrep.2025.101993Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampusEbrahim Abbasi0Fatemeh Mirzaei1Sodabeh Mashayekhi2Iraj Khodadadi3Alireza Komaki4Nafiseh Faraji5Seyed Alireza Vafaii6Nutrition Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran; Corresponding author.Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Institute of Cancer, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranDepartment of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranNutrition Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranNeurophysiology Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranNeurophysiology Research Center, Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranNutrition Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranBackground: Opium addiction can affect various organs such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain. The hippocampus is one of the brain regions affected early on in Alzheimer's disease and has a vital role in neurogenesis, cognitive function, and memory. This region also is sensitive to oxidative stress and pathophysiological alterations. Hence, this study evaluated the effects of opium on memory and learning, and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of male addicted rats. Since, the hormonal alterations in female arts can affect immune response, metabolism, and behavior, we have selected male rats. Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and opium addicts. Animals received opium (40 mg/kg) for one month. Then, naloxone (2 mg⁄kg), a morphine antagonist, was injected intraperitoneally to confirm addiction. The activities and gene expressions of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GPr), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by ELISA and Real-time PCR, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative state (TOS), glutathione, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, as well as hippocampus histopathology were assessed. Memory and learning were determined by water maze shuttle box tests. Results: The TAC and glutathione levels were decreased, while MDA and TOS increased (P < 0.05) in addicted animals. The gene expressions and activities of GPX, GPr, and SOD decreased in opium-treated animals when compared to control (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed structural changes in the hippocampal in the opium group. Opium also impaired memory and learning in animals (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Opium consumption has a detrimental effect on hippocampus function and structure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825000809MDAOpiumLearningMemory
spellingShingle Ebrahim Abbasi
Fatemeh Mirzaei
Sodabeh Mashayekhi
Iraj Khodadadi
Alireza Komaki
Nafiseh Faraji
Seyed Alireza Vafaii
Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
MDA
Opium
Learning
Memory
title Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
title_full Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
title_fullStr Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
title_full_unstemmed Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
title_short Effects of opium on hippocampal-dependent memory, antioxidant enzyme levels, oxidative stress markers, and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
title_sort effects of opium on hippocampal dependent memory antioxidant enzyme levels oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes of rat hippocampus
topic MDA
Opium
Learning
Memory
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405580825000809
work_keys_str_mv AT ebrahimabbasi effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus
AT fatemehmirzaei effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus
AT sodabehmashayekhi effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus
AT irajkhodadadi effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus
AT alirezakomaki effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus
AT nafisehfaraji effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus
AT seyedalirezavafaii effectsofopiumonhippocampaldependentmemoryantioxidantenzymelevelsoxidativestressmarkersandhistopathologicalchangesofrathippocampus