Neuroprotective effect of vitamin B12 supplementation on cognitive functions and neuronal morphology at different time intervals after traumatic brain injury in male Swiss albino mice

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury is a highly irreversible process that consists of primary as well as secondary injury which develops and progresses over months to years, leading to cognitive dysfunctions. Vitamin B₁₂ received considerable interest due to its potential therapeutic properties. The pathways of vitamin B₁₂ are closely related to neuronal survival but its effects on the pathophysiology of injury with respect to cognition is a relatively unexplored area of research. In this study, we investigated, the effect of vitamin B₁₂ and its involvement in neuroprotection on TBI-induced pathophysiology in male Swiss albino mice. Our findings suggested that vitamin B₁₂ supplementation improves TBI-mediated neurological impairments, spatial and recognition memory, and anxiety-like behavior. Furthermore, the oxidative stress was reduced by declined homocysteine level with vitamin B₁₂ supplementation validating declined expression of astrocytes and TBI biomarkers. The studies on neuronal morphology revealed that vitamin B₁₂ supplementation increases the dendritic arborization and density of mushroom and filopodia-shaped spines and further increases the expression of synaptic plasticity-related genes and proteins. Taken together, our findings reveal that, supplementation of vitamin B₁₂ restored the TBI-induced downregulation of dendritic arborization, and spine density which ultimately increases synaptic plasticity, cell survival, and recovery of cognitive dysfunctions.