The potential of alphapinene as a therapeutic agent for maternal hypoxia-induced cognitive impairments: a study on HO-1 and Nrf2 gene expression in rats.

This research seeks to address the gap in past studies by examining the role of the Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) and HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) signaling pathways in hypoxia and the potential effects of alpha-pinene on these factors. Wistar rats were divided into 7 experimental groups (n = 7): 1) control, 2 and 3) groups receiving alpha-pinene 5 and 10 mg/kg (i.p., for 21 days), 4) hypoxia group (7% O2 and 93 N2, 3 h, GD14 to GD18), 5 and 6) groups receiving alpha-pinene 5 and 10 after hypoxia. Memory and cognition were evaluated using the Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests. Inflammation was assessed by ELISA method and Nrf2 and HO-1 Nrf2 gene expression was evaluated using real-time PCR in the hippocampus. Recognition index, spatial memory, and Nrf2-H0-1 gene expression significantly reduced in the hypoxia group compared to the control group, and alpha-pinene injection in the offspring improved cognition, memory, and Nrf2- HO-1 gene expression in the groups were affected by hypoxia. Inflammation factors in the hypoxia group were higher than the control, but alpha-pinene significantly decreased inflammation ( all cases p < 0.05). Based on the results, it seems that alpha-pinene prevents cognitive and memory loss by increasing Nrf2 and H0-1 gene expression and reducing inflammation.