Neuroprotective Effect of Sesame Oil Against Radiation-Induced Alzheimer-Like Symptoms in Rats: Involvement of IL-6 and Hepcidin Regulatory Pathway

Several methods of altering rat models of Alzheimer disease (AD) have been developed, which have greatly facilitated the evaluation of novel therapeutic approaches to AD. In this study, a single radiation dose of 8 Gy was used as an induction method for AD-like symptoms owing to AB plaques increment in rat brain. This study was aimed at evaluating ionizing radiation as a rat model for AD-like symptoms through the neurobehavioral, biochemical. and histopathological investigations, in addition to the possible ameliorative role of sesame oil (SO). Animals were divided into control, AD-irradiated animals, SO-treated group, and AD + SO animals irradiated then treated with SO group. Rat brain cortex recorded significant elevations of hepcidin, β-secretase, TNF-α, ROS, and IL-6 levels as well as Fe level after radiation exposure in comparison with the control group. In addition, Zn and Cu levels recorded significant decreases compared with the control level. SO administration and irradiation significantly reverse the elevation of hepcidin concentration, β-secretase activity, and TNF- α level, whereas ROS and IL-6 levels showed some degree of improvement and their levels significantly decreased compared with the irradiated group. The behavioral impairments caused in AD resembling the symptoms group were significantly ameliorated by SO. Furthermore, histopathological studies supported the notion that SO markedly reduces the toxicity of radiation exposure. Findings indicate that radiation may be used as an induction method for AD disease owing to its oxidative stress ability. Furthermore, SO is considered a promising therapy for memory-loss complications according to the free radicals’ defense of their unsaturated fatty acids on the neuron membrane.