Protective effects of C-phycocyanin against kainic acid-induced neuronal damage in rat hippocampus

The neuroprotective role of C-phycocyanin was examined in kainate-injured b rains of rats. The effect of three different treatments with C-phycocyanin was studied. The incidence of neurobehavioral changes was significantly low er in animals receiving C-phycocyanin. These animals also gained significan tly more weight than the animals only receiving kainic acid, whereas their weight gain did not differed significantly from controls. Equivalent result s were found when the neuronal damage in the hippocampus was evaluated thro ugh changes in peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (microglial marker) and heat shock protein 27kD expression (astroglial marker). Our results are con sistent with the oxygen radical scavenging properties of C-phycocyanin desc ribed elsewhere. Our findings and the virtual lack of toxicity of C-phycocy anin suggest this drug could be used to treat oxidative stress-induced neur onal injury in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinso n's. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.