The neuroprotective effect of pioglitazone on common brain injury

Aim: In our study, we aimed to investigate the protective (neuroprotective) effect of Pioglitazone (PG) in three different doses to rats with experimental common brain injury. Materials and Method: In the experiment, male rats were traumatized by weight throw method. Rats were divided into six groups; control, trauma, trauma+saline, trauma+1 mg/kg PG, trauma+10 mg/kg PG and, trauma+30 mg/kg PG. The first drug administration was performed 30 minutes before brain trauma. PG was prepared in 100µl saline and was given as a single dose daily for 5 days at doses of 1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg intraperitoneally. On the 7th and 28th days after drug administration, brain samples were taken from animals under general anesthesia and fixed in 10% formalin. Sections were taken from tissue samples and histopathological examinations were performed by histochemical, immunohistochemical (eNOS, iNOS, NeuN) and TUNEL staining methods. The stained samples were observed under light microscope. Results were determined using One-Way ANOVA test statistically. Results: Histological examination of brain tissues showed significant tissue damage in trauma and trauma+saline groups, picnosis in neurons and vacuoles in cytoplasm. After PG application, it was observed that the damage decreased significantly in 28th day samples compared to the 7th day samples. The high dose (30 mg/kg) of PG was found to be more effective than other doses. Conclusion: PG was shown to be protective against tissue damage in animals in the head trauma model. Investigation of the molecular mechanisms of this neuroprotective effect will lead to a new approach in improving treatment efficiency and patient quality of life.