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  • Investigating the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis genes (Pgc-1α, Tfam) following the effect of cholestasis and curcumin drug in the prefrontal region of male rats.
  • Shabnam Akbari,1,*


  • Introduction: Cholestasis occurs due to a functional defect in the formation of bile at the level of liver cells or a defect in the secretion and flow of bile. This reduction in bile flow follows bile duct occlusion (BDL). Cholestasis plays a major role in necrosis and apoptosis. Oxidative stress induces cell death by apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Dysfunction of mitochondria is responsible for the development of liver diseases. Curcumin, the effective substance of the rhizome of the turmeric plant, is effective in cell proliferation and survival, growth, apoptosis-cell cycle-autophagy of cells, and degeneration of neurons through different mechanisms. The molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin is: inhibiting the expression of the NF-kB gene, an important molecule in inflammation, by inhibiting the phosphorylation of phospholipase A2 and reducing the expression of the COX-2 gene. With these findings, it seems that curcumin can be used to It is used as an effective anti-inflammatory agent. The medicinal properties of curcumin are its beneficial activities on liver diseases, which reduce the damage caused by thioacetamide, iron with high doses, cholestasis, and liver cirrhosis. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is one of the brain regions studied outside of the hippocampus, which is involved in cognitive processes. Various interventions lead to apoptosis and mitochondrial biogenesis in this area. The brain is especially vulnerable to oxidative damage, because by uses a large amount of oxygen to produce energy and enzymes and against anti-inflammatory defenses. Relatively low oxidation leads to disorder. Therefore, in this research, the expression of Pgc-1α, and Tfam genes following the effect of cholestasis and curcumin drug in the prefrontal region of male rats was investigated.
  • Methods: In this research, male rats weighing 220 to 240 grams were divided into 4 groups, including the control group, the sham-curcumin group, the BDL group, and the BDL-curcumin group. After BDL surgery, the prefrontal area was collected, RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis were performed, and the expression of genes in different groups was measured by Real-Time PCR technique.
  • Results: The expression of Pgc-1α and Tfam genes in the BDL group has decreased compared to the control group, and also with the injection of curcumin, the gene expression has decreased in the BDL-curcumin group compared to the BDL group, which is related to the expression of the Pgc -1α gene This reduction has been significant.
  • Conclusion: Curcumin can reduce the negative effects of cholestasis by reducing the expression of genes effective in mitochondrial biogenesis in the prefrontal region.
  • Keywords: cholestasis, curcumin, mitochondrial biogenesis