α-Pinene influence on pulpal pain-induced learning and memory impairment in rats via modulation of the GABAA receptor
Forouzan Rafie1, Razieh Kooshki2, Mehdi Abbasnejad3, Iran Rahbar3, Maryam Raoof4, Amir Hossein Nekouei5
1 Oral and Dental Diseases Research Center, Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran 4 Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 5 Endodontology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Correspondence Address:
Mr. Amir Hossein Nekouei Endodontology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman Iran Dr. Razieh Kooshki Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Lorestan University, Khorramabad Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_139_21
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Background: This study investigated the effect of central administration of α-pinene and the interaction of α-pinene with GABAA receptor on pulpal nociception-induced changes in learning and memory performances in rats. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six adult male Wistar rats were used. Pulpal nociception was induced by intradental application of capsaicin (100 μg/rat). α-pinene (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 μg/rat) was injected centrally 10 min before the administration of capsaicin. In addition, α-pinene (0.4 μg/rat) was co-injected with bicuculline (0.5 μg/rat). Spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory were assessed using Morris water maze (MWM) and shuttle box tasks, respectively. Results: Experimental results of the MWM test showed that capsaicin increases escape latency and distance traveled to the hidden platform (P < 0.01). The effect was prohibited by α-pinene at the dose of 0.4 μg/rat. Moreover, capsaicin-treated animals spent less time in the target zone than capsaicin + α-pinene (0.4 μg/rat)-treated rats (P < 0.05). In the shuttle box test, α-pinene (0.2 μg and 0.4 μg) prevented an increased number of acquisition trials and time spent in the dark chamber induced by capsaicin, whereas it increased step-through latency (P < 0.01). However, the effects of α-pinene (0.4 μg/rat) in both tests were prohibited by bicuculline (0.5 μg/rat). Conclusion: The data showed that central administration of α-pinene might reduce pulpalgia-induced learning and memory impairment, at least partially, via modulation of GABAA receptors.
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