Asiatic acid increased locomotor and head width through inducing brain-derived neurotrophic factor in intrauterine hypoxia-exposed zebrafish

Abstract

Background: Hypoxia ischemia leads to abnormal behavior and growth. Prenatal hypoxia also decreases brain adaptive potential, which can cause fatal effects such as cell death. Asiatic acid in Centella asiatica is a neuroprotector through antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. Aims: This study aimed to analyze the effect of Asiatic acid as a neuroprotector against hypoxia during intrauterine development on locomotor activity, head width, and BDNF expression. Methods: The true experimental laboratory research used a posttest control-only design. Zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) aged 0-2 dpf (days postfertilization) were exposed to hypoxia with oxygen levels reaching 1.5 mg/L. Then, Asiatic acid was administered at successive concentrations, namely, 0.36 μg/ml, 0.72 μg/ml, and 1.45 μg/ml, at 2 hpf (hours postfertilization), 3 dpf, 6 dpf, and 9 dpf. Head width, velocity activity and BDNF expression were observed. Results: Intrauterine hypoxia significantly decreased head width, velocity rate, and BDNF expression (<0.001). Administration of Asiatic acid at all concentrations and age 9 dpf to zebrafish larvae with intrauterine hypoxia exposure increased head width (p < 0.0001), velocity (p < 0.05), and relative mRNA expression of BDNF (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Asiatic acid is potentially neuroprotectiveto the brain in zebrafish larvae exposed to hypoxia during intrauterine development.