Neuroprotective Effect of Antiparasitic Ivermectin against Alzheimer’s Disease in Rats

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of brain disease. It is also a degenerative disease, meaning that it becomes worse with time. Alzheimer’s disease is thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms arise, with changes in the brain that are unnoticeable to the person affected. Only after years of brain changes do individuals experience noticeable symptoms such as memory loss and language problems. As the disease progresses, neurons in other parts of the brain are damaged or destroyed. Eventually, nerve cells in parts of the brain that enable a person to carry out basic bodily functions, such as walking and swallowing, are affected. Individuals become bed-bound and require around-the-clock care. Alzheimer’s disease is ultimately fatal. This study included 70 male Wistar rats divided into four groups; normal control, Alzheimer Disease (AlCl₃), therapeutic I (5 mg kg b.w. Ivermectin plus AlCl₃) and Therapeutic II (10 mg kg b.w Ivermectin plus AlCl₃) for 4 consecutive weeks. At the end of the treatment period, brain was excised and divided three parts part was fixed in 10 % formalin for histopathological examination, part for the biochemical parameter study while the rest was used for RNA isolation. Physical behavioral studies were performed to confirm the incidence of AD and the efficiency of Ivermectin. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1-Physical Behavior Studies Injection of rats with aluminum chloride induced AD’s characteristics (memory insufficient and behavioral impairment) by raising the time spent (6.5 min) to complete the session and the number of errors (4.44 errors), compared to the normal control group (2.84 min with 1.39 errors). On the other hand, treatment of AD-bearing rats with Ivermectin reduced the time spent at therapeutic І and therapeutic ІІ groups (4.67 and 3.61 min, respectively) to complete the session and the number of errors (2.43 and 1.44 errors, respectively) per session, compared to AD-bearing rats.