Abstract：
The present study investigated the neural health benefit of beta-sitosterol (BSS) against trimethyltin (TMT)-induced neurodegeneration in mice. Forty male ICR mice were randomly divided into Sham-veh, TMT-veh, TMT-BSS50, and TMT-BSS100. A one-time intraperitoneal injection of 2.6 mg/kg of TMT was given to mice in TMT groups. Vehicle (veh), BSS 50 mg/kg or BSS 100 mg/kg were orally given for 2 weeks. Spatial learning and memory were evaluated. Brain oxidative status, hippocampal neuropathology, and reactive astrocytes were done. White matter pathology was also evaluated. The results indicated the massy effect of TMT on induced motor ability and spatial memory deficits in accordance with increased neuronal degeneration in CA1, CA3, and DG and internal capsule white matter damage. TMT also induced the reduction of reactive astrocytes in CA1 and DG. Brain\'s catalase activity was significantly reduced by TMT, but not in mice with BSS treatments. Both doses of BSS treatment exhibited improvement in motor ability and spatial memory deficits in accordance with the activation of reactive astrocytes in CA1, CA3, and DG. However, they successfully prevented the increase of neuronal degeneration in CA1 found only with the BSS dose of 100 mg/kg, and it was indicated as the effective dose for neuroprotection in the vulnerable brain area. This study demonstrated mitigative effects of BSS against motor ability and memory deficits with neural health benefits, including a protective effect against CA1 neurodegeneration and a nurturing effect on hippocampal reactive astrocytes.
摘要：
本研究调查了β-谷甾醇（BSS）对三甲基锡（TMT）诱导的小鼠神经变性的神经健康益处。将40只雄性ICR小鼠随机分为Sham-veh，TMT-veh,TMT-BSS50和TMT-BSS100。对TMT组小鼠一次性腹膜内注射2.6mg/kg的TMT。Vehicle(veh),口服给予BSS50mg/kg或BSS100mg/kg,持续2周。评估了空间学习和记忆。脑氧化状态，海马神经病理学，和反应性星形胶质细胞。还评估了白质病理学。结果表明，随着CA1，CA3和DG中神经元变性的增加以及内囊白质损伤，TMT对诱导的运动能力和空间记忆障碍的大量作用。TMT还诱导CA1和DG中反应性星形胶质细胞的减少。大脑的过氧化氢酶活性被TMT显著降低，但在用BSS治疗的小鼠中却没有。根据CA1，CA3和DG中反应性星形胶质细胞的激活，两种剂量的BSS治疗均表现出运动能力和空间记忆缺陷的改善。然而,他们成功地防止了CA1中神经元变性的增加，仅在BSS剂量为100mg/kg时发现，它被认为是脆弱大脑区域神经保护的有效剂量。这项研究证明了BSS对运动能力和记忆缺陷的缓解作用，并具有神经健康益处，包括对CA1神经变性的保护作用和对海马反应性星形胶质细胞的滋养作用。
