Akbar Anaeigoudari - Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran
Fatemeh Norouzi - Department of Physiology, Esfarayan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayan, Iran
Azam Abareshi - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Farimah Beheshti - Department of Basic Sciences and Neuroscience Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran‎
Azita Aaghaei - Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Naser Shafei - Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Zahra Gholamnezhad - Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahmoud Hosseini - Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

In the present study the protective effect of Nigella sativa (N. sativa)on synaptic plasticity impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats was investigated. Fifty-eight rats were grouped and treated as follows: ۱) control (saline), ۲) LPS, ۳) LPS-N. sativa,and ۴) N. sativa. In a Morris water maze test, the escape latency and traveled path to find the platform as well as time spent and the traveled distance in target quadrant (Q۱) were measured. Long term potentiation (LTP) from CA۱ area of hippocampus followed by high frequency stimulation to Schafer collateral was studied and slope, slope ۱۰-۹۰% and amplitude of field excitatory field potential (fEPSP) were calculated. The escape latency and traveled path in LPS group were significantly higher than those in the control group while, in LPS-N. sativa group these parameters were significantly lower than those in LPS group. The rats in LPS group spent less time and traveled shorter distance in Q۱ than the rats in the control group while, in LPS-N. sativa group the rats spent more time and traveled longer distance than the rats in LPS group. LPS significantly decreased slope, slope ۱۰-۹۰% and amplitude of fEPSP while, in LPS-N. sativa group these parameters increased compared to LPS group. The results indicated that the hydro-alcohol extract of N. sativa protected against synaptic plasticity and spatial learning and memory impairment induced by LPS in rats.

Lipopolysaccharide, ‎ Long term potentiation, Nigella sativa L, Spatial memory, Synaptic plasticity