Bromelain prevented the onset of psychotic behaviours in social-isolation model of schizophrenia by inhibiting astrogliosis and oxido-inflammatory damage in male and female mice

The study aims to investigate the potential anti-pyschotic effects of bromelain in social-isolation model of schizophrenia in male and female mice.

Thirty male and female mice weaned at postnatal day (PND) 21 were divided into 6 groups of 5 mice per group. Group 1 to 3 were male mice subdivided into control, social isolation and bromelain (50 mg/kg b.w) groups respectively, while group 4 to 6 were female mice subdivided into control, social isolation and bromelain (50 mg/kg b.w) groups respectively. On PND 56, The animals were subjected to a battery of behavioural assessments, followed by the harvesting of their brain for biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histological assessments.

Social isolation rearing significantly produced schizophrenia-related behaviours, oxidative stress, astrocytosis, and neuroinflammation with gender and regional specificity in the brain tissues. Bromelain prevented the development of anxiety, depression, and poor nest building capacity in male and female mice and hyperlocomotion and impaired Pre-pulse inhibition only in the female mice. These effects were mediated by the ability of bromelain to prevent neurodegeneration, astrocytes overactivation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.

Bromelain prevented psychotic behaviours in this study through the inhibition of astrogliosis, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.