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 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 two years, the experiments pertaining to Specific Aim 1 have been completed. This comprises: (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) Memory and mood function analyses using a battery of behavioral tests. (4) Analyses of oxidative stress and inflammation using biochemical, immunohistochemical and molecular biological studies. The results suggest that administration of higher doses of MSLGVT treatment to GWI-rats for 8 weeks is efficacious for improving memory and mood function with increased hippocampal neurogenesis and suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1047195
Entities
People
- Ashok K. Shetty
Organizations
- Texas A&M University