CROCIN'S PROTECTIVE EFFECT AGAINST A VALPROATE-EXPOSED MODEL OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A HISTOLOGICAL AND OXIDO-INFLAMMATORY INVESTIGATION

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is shown to be associated with oxidative stress and damage to neurons induced by valproic acid (VPA) in a postnatal animal model. Crocin (CRO) was considered to have potential advantages in ASD due to its putative anti-inflammatory, Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2) stimulation, and gut microbiota alteration capabilities. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the histological and biochemical alterations associated with crocin treatment in an ASD model induced by valproic acid (VPA). By examining both the structural and molecular changes in affected brain tissues, the therapeutic potential of crocin in mitigating the adverse effects of VPA exposure was studied. Methods: Wistar albino rat, aged thirteen days, were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. VPA was effectively used to cause autism on PND 14 with a single 400 mg/kg s.c. dosage. Crocin was given out every day between PND 14 and 40. After the study concluded, the animals were euthanized for oxido-inflammatory estimations and histopathological investigation. Results: Following administration of VPA, a rise in Ca2+ and myeloperoxidase level was observed. Also, the inflammatory markers viz. IL-6, TNF-α level increased and BDNF, CREB and IL-10 level was decreased along with mitochondrial complexes. Intervention with crocin considerably improved the histological and inflammatory alterations in rodents contrasted with those in the VPA-exposed category. Increasing the dosage of crocin had more noticeable effects, suggesting that the autistic deficiencies induced by VPA may be reversed. Conclusion: Crocin may be helpful in the treatment of ASD because it has neuronal cytoprotective properties, possibly as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties. Future studies are required to completely comprehend the biological mechanism of action of crocin.