Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aims: In this study, the effects of Vitamin D3 on total protein concentration (TPC) and MBP expression in the corpus callosum extracts of Cuprizone induced demyelinated mouse has been investigated.
 Material and Methods: The mice were treated by Cuprizone for five weeks in order to induce demyelination. Then, the mice were divided into 3 groups. The first group was injected intraperitoneally (IP) by vitamin D3 in the amount of 5 µg/kg/daily body weight. The second group (SHAM) was injected IP by phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and the third group was left without injection as controls. After five weeks, the mice were killed and the corpus callosum was collected and the total protein concentration (TPC) and expression of MBP were studied by Western blot technique.
Results: No significant variation in the cortical TPC was seen in vitamin D3 injected group as compared to either SHAM or controls. We have also shown that the expression of MBP in the corpus callosum extracts of demyelinated mouse was significantly increased in the vitamin D3 injected group as compared to the other groups.
Conclusions: It is concluded that vitamin D3 increases MBP expression in the corpus callosum of cuprizone-induced demyelination mice. It is also suggested that vitamin D3 may play a role in the process of remyelination by increasing MBP expression in the cortex.
 
 

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate of cuprizone time-dependent effects on MAG, MOG, MBP, and PLP proteins and demyelination process.
Materials and Methods: The myelin degradation model was created with a five week diet containing 0.2% of cuprizone. The rats brain corpus callosum region was subjected to tissue and molecular evaluation at weeks 3, 4 and 5. At the end of the fifth week, behavioral studies were performed by open field test.
Results: Results showed that the expression of myelin sheath proteins decreased time-dependently in comparison with the control group. Despite the overall reduction of these proteins in the third week, only PLP protein decreased significantly in this week comparing to control (p < /em><0.01). Other proteins also showed a significant reduction in expression after the fourth week. Electron microscopy studies showed significant changes in the reduction of myelin diameter in comparison to the control group only after 4 weeks (p < 0.01). Behavioral studies also indicated that cuprizone was able to cause significant behavioral abnormalities in the animals from the beginning of the third week compared to the control group.
Conclusion: This research was the first time to study the main myelin proteins at the same time, and the results show that the best time for accurate molecular, tissue and behavioral reviews are fourth and fifth weeks.