Tamoxifen as a Therapeutic Intervention for Neurobehavioral Deficits in a Propionic Acid-Induced Autism Model via Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms.

This study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of tamoxifen in mitigating neurobehavioral deficits induced by propionic acid (PPA), an autism model in rats. Specifically, the study examines tamoxifen’s impact on sociability, locomotion, neuron integrity, and inflammation within the hippocampus and cerebellum. Thirty male Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: control, PPA+saline, and PPA+tamoxifen. PPA was administered intraperitoneally to induce autism-like symptoms, followed by tamoxifen treatment in the designated group. Sociability was assessed using the three-chamber sociability test, and locomotion was measured with the open-field test. Histopathological assessments, including GFAP immunostaining and cresyl violet staining, were conducted to examine astrocyte activity and neuronal integrity in brain sections. Additionally, biochemical analyses were performed to measure oxidative stress markers and inflammatory cytokines. Tamoxifen significantly improved sociability and locomotor function compared to the PPA+saline group. Histopathological evaluation revealed tamoxifen’s potential in preserving neuronal structure, indicated by increased Purkinje cell counts and reduced glial activation. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that tamoxifen reduced oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and iNOS, while increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These findings suggest that tamoxifen may offer neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory benefits in addressing neurobehavioral and neuroinflammatory deficits associated with autism models induced by PPA. However, further studies are necessary to investigate potential gender-specific effects and optimize dosing strategies for broader therapeutic applications.