BACKGROUND: The aging process causes a reduction in the myenteric neuronal population, related to oxidative stress, resulting in malfunctioning of the digestive tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the action of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), an important antioxidant drug, on the myenteric plexus of the jejunum and ileum of rats after treatment for 120 days. METHODS: Fragments of the jejunum and ileum were collected from three groups of rats: a 90-day-old group (group Y), a 210-day-old group (group A), and a 210-day-old group treated daily with the extract EGb 761 (50 mg/kg body weight) (group TA). The analysis was carried out by using the myosin-V immunohistochemical technique. Neuronal densities were estimated, and a study of the neuronal profile area of 500 neurons from each group was carried out. RESULTS: In the jejunum, there was a significant neuronal population reduction of 17% only in group A compared with group Y. In the ileum, there was a significant neuronal reduction of 36% in group A compared with group Y, and a significant reduction in group TA of 20%. The difference in the reduction between groups A and TA in the ileum was also significant. In the jejunum, only group A showed a significant increase in neuronal profile area, but in the ileum, there was a significant increase in both groups A and TA. CONCLUSIONS: A daily dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of Ginkgo biloba extract has a significant neuroprotector effect on the myenteric plexus of the ileum during the aging process in rats.
BACKGROUND: The aging process causes a reduction in the myenteric neuronal population, related to oxidative stress, resulting in malfunctioning of the digestive tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the action of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761), an important antioxidant drug, on the myenteric plexus of the jejunum and ileum of rats after treatment for 120 days. METHODS: Fragments of the jejunum and ileum were collected from three groups of rats: a 90-day-old group (group Y), a 210-day-old group (group A), and a 210-day-old group treated daily with the extract EGb 761 (50 mg/kg body weight) (group TA). The analysis was carried out by using the myosin-V immunohistochemical technique. Neuronal densities were estimated, and a study of the neuronal profile area of 500 neurons from each group was carried out. RESULTS: In the jejunum, there was a significant neuronal population reduction of 17% only in group A compared with group Y. In the ileum, there was a significant neuronal reduction of 36% in group A compared with group Y, and a significant reduction in group TA of 20%. The difference in the reduction between groups A and TA in the ileum was also significant. In the jejunum, only group A showed a significant increase in neuronal profile area, but in the ileum, there was a significant increase in both groups A and TA. CONCLUSIONS: A daily dose of 50 mg/kg body weight of Ginkgo biloba extract has a significant neuroprotector effect on the myenteric plexus of the ileum during the aging process in rats.
Authors: G Calapai; A Crupi; F Firenzuoli; M C Marciano; F Squadrito; G Inferrera; A Parisi; A Rizzo; C Crisafulli; A Fiore; A P Caputi Journal: Life Sci Date: 2000-10-20 Impact factor: 5.037
Authors: João Paulo Ferreira Schoffen; Angélica Soares; Priscila de Freitas; Nilza Cristina Buttow; Maria Raquel Marcal Natali Journal: Auton Neurosci Date: 2005-09-30 Impact factor: 3.145
Authors: Yuan Luo; Julie V Smith; Vijaykumar Paramasivam; Adam Burdick; Kenneth J Curry; Justin P Buford; Ikhlas Khan; William J Netzer; Huaxi Xu; Peter Butko Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2002-09-04 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ana Paula de Santi-Rampazzo; João Paulo Ferreira Schoffen; Carla Possani Cirilo; Mariana Cristina Vicente Umada Zapater; Fernando Augusto Vicentini; Andréia Assunção Soares; Rosane Marina Peralta; Adelar Bracht; Nilza Cristina Buttow; Maria Raquel Marçal Natali Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2015-04-16 Impact factor: 2.629