Therapeutic Effects of Trolox and Neocuproine on Experimental Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Trolox and neocuproine treatment in an experimental rat model of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Material and Methods: Forty rats were grouped as Control, TBI, Trolox, and neocuproine. After the Marmarou Weight Drop Model was used to create TBI, 80 mg/kg/day Trolox (i.p.), and 100 μM/day Neocuproine (i.p.) treatments were applied in the 2nd hour. Open field, attention, and short-term memory novel object recognition tests were performed to measure locomotor activity. IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β levels in the hippocampus tissues of the rats were analyzed by the ELISA method. Results: Open field and novel object recognition test results showed that the total path traveled was significantly decreased in the TBI group compared to the control group (p<0.001). A significant increase in locomotor functions was observed in the Trolox (p=0.018) and neocuproine (p=0.002) groups compared to TBI. Short-term memory test results decreased in TBI compared to control (p<0.001), while they increased in the Trolox and neocuproine groups compared to TBI (both p<0.001). Hippocampus IL-1β (p=0.012) and TNF-α (p=0.011) levels increased, while IL-10 (p=0.031) and TGF-β (p=0.007) levels decreased compared to control in the TBI group. While all proinflammatory cytokine levels decreased, antiinflammatory cytokine levels increased in the Trolox and neocuproine groups compared to TBI. Conclusion: The present findings showed that Trolox and neocuproine treatments in TBI provided significant improvements in short-term memory, and locomotor activity levels by reducing proinflammatory cytokine production, and increasing antiinflammatory cytokine production.