Monosodium Luminol for Improving Brain Function in Gulf War Illness
Abstract
The goal of this project is to ascertain whether administration of monosodium luminol-GVT (MSL-GVT, an antioxidant drug from Bach Pharma) in a rat model of Gulf war illness (GWI) would alleviate mood and memory dysfunction and anxiety associated with Gulf war illness (GWI). Specific Aim 1 studies are focused on quantifying the efficacy of different doses of MSL-GVT for suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation and improving neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rats exposed to GWI-related (GWIR) chemicals and stress (GWI-rats). Specific Aim 2 studies are focused on examining whether long-term administration of an apt dose of MSL-GVT would alleviate mood and memory dysfunction and anxiety in GWI-rats, using a battery of behavioral tests. During the past year, a portion of experiments for Specific Aim 1 was performed: (1) Exposure of rats to GWIR-chemicals and moderate stress. (2) Oral administration of different doses of MSL-GVT, 4-months after the exposure. (3) Mood and memory function analyses using a few behavioral tests. (4) Analyses of oxidative stress using biochemical and molecular biological assays. The data collected so far suggest that administration of higher doses of MSLGVT to GWI-rats improves mood and memory function with decreased concentration of malondialdehyde (a by product of oxidative stress) and normalized expression of oxidative stress responsive genes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1004005
Entities
People
- Ashok K. Shetty
Organizations
- Texas A&M University