Fatemeh Karimi - Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Ali-Mohammad Kamali - Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ali Noorafshan - Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Azam Soleimani - Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

This study examined the consequences of chronic sleep restriction (CSR) with or without curcumin treatment on quantitative histomorphological correlates of the locus coeruleus (LC) nucleus using stereological techniques. Male rats were assigned to four groups including: 1-control (C), 2- grid floor (GF), 3- CSR and 4- CSR+ curcumin (CUR) (100 mg/kg/day). Animals in the GF group were placed on wire-mesh grids while in the CSR box (modified multiple platform paradigm). After a period of 21 days, rats were sacrificed with their brains excised and assessed using stereological procedures. Our findings revealed a 22%, 45% and 47% reduction in the total volume, the total number of neurons and glial cells of LC in CSR group as compared to the control groups, respectively (p < 0.01). Such structural changes were abrogated in the CSR+CUR compared to the CSR group. The study outcome proposed potential neuroprotective effects of CUR in our sleep-restricted rat model.

Curcumin, Locus Coeruleus, Chronic Sleep Restriction