ADMINISTRATION OF CURCUMIN AS AN ADJUVANT TO THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF BRAIN INJURIES RESULTING FROM EXPERIMENTAL HYDROCEPHALUS

• Grant number: 24/12942-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Luiza da Silva Lopes
• Grantee: Tiago Neri di Lorenzo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition resulting from an imbalance between the production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. The resulting ventricular dilation triggers compression of brain structures, with reduced blood flow and regional ischemia, in addition to an amplified astrocytic response that can compromise tissue repair after treatment. Current treatments are surgical techniques for shunting and draining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but several post-surgical complications make patients' prognoses challenging. Recent research reveals promising effects of some substances such as curcumin on nervous tissue in several diseases, resulting in control of neuroinflammation and progression of neurodegeneration. Our hypothesis is that this substance can also reduce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration of the brain affected by hydrocephalus. This project aims to evaluate the effects of curcumin on the modulation of inflammation, oxidation and neurodegeneration in the brains of young hydrocephalic rats, treated or not with CSF shunt. To this end, 40 young Wistar Hannover rats, distributed into 5 experimental groups (n=8) for 21 days, from the induction of hydrocephalus (Control; Hydrocephalus + drug vehicle; Hydrocephalus + curcumin; Hydrocephalus + surgery + drug vehicle; Hydrocephalus + surgery + curcumin). Hydrocephalus will be induced by the intracisternal kaolin injection method, on the rats' seventh day of life. Seven days later, the diagnosis of hydrocephalus will be confirmed by ultrasound, the rats in the operated groups will be treated by ventriculo-subcutaneous shunt, and the tested drug will be started on the same day. During the last week of the experiment, the Open Field and Active Avoidance Test will be carried out. After euthanasia and brain collection, the following parameters will be analyzed: GFAP, Ki-67 (immunohistochemistry), malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glutathione (GSH) and markers of total antioxidant capacity.