Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the neuronal activities of berberine (BER) againstSchistosoma mansoni-induced infection in mice. Animals were divided into four groups. Group I served as a vehicle control. Group III was gavaged with 100 µl of 12 mg/kg berberine chloride for 10 days. Group II and Group IV were infected with 100±10 S. mansoni cercariae, and on day 46 p.i. with S. mansoni. The animals of Group IV received 100 µl berberine chloride by gavage once daily for 10 days at a dose of 12 mg/kg body weight. All mice were sacrificed at day 55 post-infection. Schistosomiasis induced a highly significant reduction in contents of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA). On contrary, schistosomiasis resulted in a highly significant increment in the contents of calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^-) ions. Moreover, BER treatment induced a highly significant decrease in most investigated parameters. Collectively, BER could be considered as a neuro-modulator of S. mansoni-infected mice brain.

Key words: Schistosoma mansoni, Berberine, neurotransmitters, ions, mice.