Experimental carbon monoxide poisoning and the neuroprotective effect of idebenone in reducing ischemic tissue damage, apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that Idebenone, known for its antioxidative properties through various mechanisms and its ability to reduce cellular and neural damage while improving cognitive functions, supported by literature, could reduce or prevent the effects occurring in the brain secondary to ischemia, inflammation, oxidation, and cell damage in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Method: In this study, an experimental CO poisoning protocol was established, and 40 mature female Wistar Albino rats were used. Until the day of the study, the rats were kept in standard cages at 22 ºC room temperature, provided with water and standard rat feed. In the experimental procedure, rats placed in the chamber were exposed to CO and air. Rats were divided into 5 groups: Group 1 (Sham), Group 2 (CO + 2mL saline solution), Group 3 (CO + Idebenone 100mg/kg), Group 4 (CO + Idebenone 200 mg/kg), and Group 5 (CO + Idebenone 300mg/kg). According to the specified protocol, Idebenone was orally administered to the rats at specified doses every 24 hours for 5 days. 120 hours after the start of the experiment, anesthesia was applied to the rats, blood was collected, and the levels of oxidative damage markers were evaluated. Their brains were then removed by craniotomy, and histopathological and biochemical changes in the hippocampus were examined. Results: Apoptosis index and degeneration grade assessment of hippocampal tissues were performed. Significant differences were found among groups in terms of apoptosis index and histopathological degeneration grade (p=0.001). Group 2, without Idebenone, had the highest apoptosis index, while among the groups receiving Idebenone, Group 5 had the lowest apoptosis index. Biochemical protein levels from tissues and serums were evaluated and significant differences were detected in NSE, TOS, TAS, OSI and MDA parameters between the groups given and not given Idebenone (p=0.001). Conclusion: Idebenone application in the experimental CO poisoning model in rats was found to reduce degeneration in brain damage and to have a protective neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress. Keywords: CO poisoning, Idebenone, Neuroprotection