Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (6): 925-931.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.158358

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Curcumin improves synaptic plasticity impairment induced by HIV-1gp120 V3 loop

Ling-ling Shen 1, Ming-liang Jiang 1, 2, Si-si Liu 1, 2, Min-chun Cai 1, Zhong-qiu Hong 1, Li-qing Lin 1, 2, Yan-yan Xing 1, 2, Gui-lin Chen 1, 2, Rui Pan 3, Li-juan Yang 1, 2, Ying Xu 2, Jun Dong 1, 2   

  1. 1 Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Medical College of Jinan
    University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
    2 GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
    3 Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2015-03-13 Online:2015-06-18 Published:2015-06-18
  • Contact: Jun Dong or Ying Xu, dongjunbox@163.com or xuying@jnu.edu.cn.

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Abstract:

Curcumin has been shown to significantly improve spatial memory impairment induced by HIV-1 gp120 V3 in rats, but the electrophysiological mechanism remains unknown. Using extracellular microelectrode recording techniques, this study confirmed that the gp120 V3 loop could suppress long-term potentiation in the rat hippocampal CA1 region and synaptic plasticity, and that curcumin could antagonize these inhibitory effects. Using a Fura-2/AM calcium ion probe, we found that curcumin resisted the effects of the gp120 V3 loop on hippocampal synaptosomes and decreased Ca2+ concentration in synaptosomes. This effect of curcumin was identical to nimodipine, suggesting that curcumin improved the inhibitory effects of gp120 on synaptic plasticity, ameliorated damage caused to the central nervous system, and might be a potential neuroprotective drug.

Key words: nerve regeneration, curcumin, neurons, HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop, plasticity, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, output/input curve, long-term potentiation, excitatory postsynaptic potential, paired-pulse facilitation, Ca2+, synaptosome, NSFC grants, neural regeneration