The Neuroprotective Effect of α-Lipoic Acid and/or Metformin against the Behavioral and Neurochemical Changes Induced by Hypothyroidism in Rat

The present study evaluates the neuroprotective effect of α-lipoic acid (ALA) and/or metformin (MET) on the behavioral and neurochemical changes induced by hypothyroidism.Rats were divided into control, rat model of hypothyroidism induced by propylthiouracil, and rat model of hypothyroidism treated with ALA, MET, or their combination.Behaviorally, hypothyroid rats revealed impaired memory and reduced motor activity as indicated from the novel object recognition test and open-field test, respectively. Hypothyroidism induced a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]) and a significant decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) in the cortex and hippocampus. These were associated with a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and a significant decrease in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Hypothyroidism decreased significantly the levels of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and dopamine (DA) and reduced the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and Na+, K+-ATPase in the cortex and hippocampus. Treatment of hypothyroid rats with ALA and/or MET showed an improvement in memory function and motor activity. Moreover, ALA and/or MET prevented the increase in MDA and TNF-α, and the decline in GSH, NO, BDNF, 5-HT, NE, and DA. It also restored AchE and Na+, K+-ATPase activities in the studied brain regions.ALA and/or MET has a potential neuroprotective effect against the adverse behavioral and neurochemical changes induced by hypothyroidism in rats.