Neuroprotective Effects of Sulforaphane on Oxygen/Glucose Deprived Neurons and Astrocytes

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) constitutes the primary outcome of premature nerve injury. Impairment of oxygen and glucose supply during pregnancy to the fetus can induce neuron damage and death. Mental retardation, seizures, learning disabilities, and other mental diseases can occur as a result of this insufficient nutrient delivery to the fetus. Therapeutic interventions that are efficacious for the injured newborn are limited mainly because the majority of insults (90%) resulting in CP occur during pregnancy and current therapies only address those injuries that occur during labor and delivery or after birth, therefore addressing only 10% of the injured newborns. This investigation was aimed to determine neuroprotective effects of sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is an isothiocyanate found in vegetables such as broccoli sprouts, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage that have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic effects. Neurons and astrocyte cell death was decreased with sulforaphane treatment during oxygen-glucose deprivation. Cell death was analyzed through trypan blue viability assay, lactate dehydrogenase assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, DNA quantification, and FAM-DEVD-FMK caspase 3 and 7 inhibitor immunofluorescence quantification. This study demonstrates neuroprotective effects of sulforaphane for neurons and astrocytes and its potential as a preventative treatment for pregnant mothers.