حمیدرضا مومنی

Introduction: In recent years, the use of nanoparticles has rapidly expanded and oxidized elements such as zinc oxide have entered the environment and human life. Zinc oxide nanoparticles, due to their smaller size can easily enter the brain and have irreparable effects on the memory and learning system, oxidative damage and cell death. Antioxidants are essential to reduce the harmful effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Pentoxifyllin has pharmacological effects, including improved blood circulation in small vessels, decreased blood viscosity, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. Pentoxifyllin has also gained considerable interest as a reactive oxygen species cleanser have shown, that is the potential for its antioxidant effect. This study has evaluated the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles and pentoxifyllin on memory retrieval and number of CA1 pyramidal cells in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats. Methods: The experiment groups consist of control group (saline, 1 ml/kg), group treated with Zno NPs (1/25 mg/kg), group treated with PTX (50 mg/kg) and group treated with Zno NPs (1/25 mg/kg) + PTX (50 mg/kg). Intraperitoneal administration of saline or ZnO NPs was down 30 minutes before training. The animals memory were examined with passive avoidance test and the number of intact neurons in CA1 area in experimental groups were counted. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and one-way analysis of variance and Graph Pad prism software. Results: Injections of ZnO NPs (1.25 mg/kg) significantly reduced memory retention (p< 0/001) and intact neurons in CA1 area (p< 0/001) compared to the control group. In the group of ZnO NPs (1.25) + PTX (50 mg/kg), PTX improved the effect of ZnO NPs on memory retrival and intact neurons in CA1 area (p< 0/01). Conclusion: ZnO NPs lead to memory deficiency and reduced hippocampal CA1 neurons. Pentoxifyllin infusion improved memory and increased hippocampal CA1 neurons.