Cyclosporine A inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity in rats experimentally demyelinated with ethidium bromide

Int J Dev Neurosci. 2007 Jun;25(4):259-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2007.02.005. Epub 2007 Mar 7.

Abstract

Cyclosporine A is the major immunosuppressive agent used for organ transplantation and for the treatment of a variety of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis. In this work, we investigated the effect of the cyclosporine A on the acetylcholinesterase activity in the cerebral cortex, striatum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum and pons of the rats experimentally demyelinated by ethidium bromide. Rats were divided into four groups: I control (injected with saline), II (treated with cyclosporine A), III (injected with 0.1% ethidium bromide) and IV (injected with 0.1% the ethidium bromide and treated with cyclosporine A). The results showed a significant inhibition (p<0.05) of acetylcholinesterase activity in the groups II, III and IV in all brain structures analyzed. In the striatum, hippocampus, hypothalamus and pons the inhibition was greater (p<0.005) when ethidium bromide was associated with cyclosporine A. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated that cyclosporine A is an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase activity and this effect is increased after an event of toxic demyelination of the central nervous system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Antirheumatic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / chemically induced
  • Demyelinating Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Demyelinating Diseases / enzymology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Ethidium
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Ethidium