Curcumin modulates long term potentiation in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats

Abstract Curcumin is a component of turmeric isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa. Natural polyphenols like curcumin have long been used to heal several pathological states. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of curcumin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced modifications of long-term potentiation (LTP) in rats. Five groups of rats with seven in each were allocated to the experimental groups. The experimental groups were defined as: (1) control, (2) LPS (1 mg/kg), (3) LPS-Cur 5 mg/kg, (4) LPSCur 10 mg/kg, and (5) LPS-Cur 15 mg/kg. Afterward, LTP was recorded from the CA1 region of the hippocampus following high-frequency stimulus application to the Schaffer collateral. Our results indicated that the amplitude and slope components of the field excitatory post-synaptic potential (fEPSP) were reduced after the LPS administration in the control animals. Treatment by the high dose of curcumin (15 mg/kg) restored these parameters in comparison with the LPS-treated group. This investigation suggested that curcumin at a high dose could recover LTP impairments induced by LPS in adult male rats.