Cuprizone Induced Demyelination in Male Wistar Rats with Timeline Changes Admistered through Oral Gavage

Abstract

Background: Cuprizone model of demyelination is a widely studied and successful model to mimic the early stages of Multiple Sclerosis, which is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is usually given as powder mixed in rat chow. The ingestion of this might not prove accurate because of variable feed that the animal can take. Therefore, for precise dosage, an oral gavage route is better technically and better reproducible. This study aims to record the changes occurred during 3 weeks and 5 weeks.

Materials and methods: The animals were divided into 2 groups each with 6 animals. Control was given 1.5 ml Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)  and Cu group was given 450 mg/ Kg b.w of Cuprizone dissolved in 1.5ml of HPC, per day orally for 5 weeks and the study resuts were analysed in two phases. Phase I, 3 animals from each group studied for 3 weeks and phase II, remaining animals from both groups studied for 5 weeks.

Results: significant decrease in body weight and increase in brain organ weight was seen in Cu group and serum MBP (Myelin Basic Protein) and immunoflourescence of GST[pi] (Glutathione S Transferase - pi) was reduced in 3 weeks, showing the beginning of demyelination changes. Body weight and brain weight percentage was also analysed in both the groups in both the phases. Serum copper levels was also analysed and found to be reduced in Cuprizone group than control group.

Conclusion: Significant changes of demyelination were evident after partial scarifice by the end of 3 weeks, which proved the beginning of demyelination changes and Further chronic changes were ascertained by the end of 5 weeks. Through this study, a Fixed dose of cuprizone, can be given through oral gavage, and further changes of Demyelination changes can be studied, which can prove as a useful model for initial Stages of multiple sclerosis..