• Possible protective effect of curcumin against morphine-induced avoidance memory impairment via phosphorylation of CREB‏ protein
  • khatereh kharazmi,1,* Abolfazl Ardjmand,2 behrang alani,3
    1. Physiology Research Center, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences
    2. Physiology Research Center, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences
    3. Physiology Research Center, Institute for Basic Science, Kashan University of Medical Sciences


  • Introduction: Despite theneuroprotective effect of curcumin on memory,there still isn't sufficient informationon its downstream signaling pathway.This study examines the effect of curcumin on morphine-induced avoidance memory (AM) impairment and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) in rat hippocampus.
  • Methods: Rats (n=40) were divided into 4 equal groups and the memory was studied for 2 days in an AMapparatus: Control (saline gavage equivalent to the drug for 35 days and then post-training i.p. saline); Curcumin (curcumin gavage (10 mg/kg) for 35 days and then post-training i.p. saline); Morphine (saline gavage equivalent to drug for 35 days and then post-training i.p. morphine (7.5 mg/kg); Curcumin+Morphine (curcumin gavage for 35 days and then post-training i.p. morphine). In all groups the day after the training (test day),theAMmemory was reported as the time latency (sec.) to inter into dark chamber. Following test session, the locomotion of animals were evaluated using open field and then their brain were removed under deep anesthesia for p-CREB expression using Western blotting.
  • Results: The latency time of the entering into dark chamber was decreased in morphine group compared to the control (P<0.001). However the latency in morphine+curcumin group was increased compared to the morphine group (P<0.01). No significant difference was seen for locomotion between the groups (p>0.05). While the p-CREB/CREB/beta actin were decreased in the morphine (p<0.001) group, it increased in curcumin +morphine group (p<0.01).
  • Conclusion: The curcumin pretreatment ameliorates the morphine-induced AM of rat possibly through the CREB signaling pathway.
  • Keywords: Curcumin, Morphine, CREB protein, learning, memory