Effect of crocin carotenoid on BDNF and CREB gene expression in brain ventral tegmental area of morphine treated rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of crocin carotenoid on BNDF and CREB gene expression in the brain ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the serum level of BDNF in morphine-treated rats compared to control. Methods: In this study, 40 male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were used in 5 experimental groups: 1) non morphine treat rats (control); 2) non morphine-treated rats with 25 mg/kg crocin carotenoid (i.p., for 21 d); 3) morphine treated rats (10 mg/kg twice a day, s.c., 21 d); 4 and 5) morphine-treated rats with 12.5 and 25 mg/kg crocin carotenoid, respectively. By the end of research, BDNF and CREB expression was determined by real-time-PCR method. ELISA analysis was also applied for assessing the serum BDNF level. Results: The data indicated that morphine treatment could cause a significant decrease in BDNF and CREB gene expression (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively) in brain VTA as well as serum level of BDNF (P<0.01) in comparison to control group. Treatment with 25 mg/kg crocin carotenoid caused a significant enhancement in BDNF and CREF gene expression (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) and serum level of BDNF (P<0.01) in morphine-treated rats in comparison to morphine-treated group. Conclusions: Regarding to obtained results, crocin carotenoid can inhibit unfavorable effects of morphine on the neural system to some extent through enhancing BDNF and CREB gene expression in brain VTA and serum level of BDNF.