Comparative analysis of curcumin’s effect on NMDA receptors in obese male and female hypertensive mice
Description
Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been reported to lower systolic blood pressure. Previous work in our laboratory showed that curcumin lowered systolic blood pressure in obese, estrogen-deficient female (OVX) mice. However, the same effect was not observed in obese estrogen-replete female (SHAM) or obese male mice. This study tested the hypothesis that, in the absence of estrogen, curcumin can mimic the actions of estrogen to lower blood pressure by decreasing the phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (p-NMDAR). A decrease in phosphorylation would ultimately impact the activation of glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons involved in blood pressure regulation. Obese male and female (SHAM and OVX) mice were administered either piperine (control) or curcumin plus piperine (treatment) for thirty days. Protein was extracted from the hypothalamus, and western blot analysis was performed to identify changes in the expression of p-NMDAR. All data were normalized to beta-actin. The development of obesity in both groups of female mice (SHAM and OVX) resulted in a significant increase in p-NMDAR (p=0.0389 and p=0.0003, respectively). Only in obese ovariectomized mice did we observe a significant decrease in p-NMDAR (p=0.001). Neither the development of obesity nor the consumption of curcumin affected the expression of p-NMDAR in male mice. Taken together, these results provide a foundation that highlights curcumin’s potential as a therapeutic strategy for regulating postmenopausal hypertension.
Citation Information
Crowl, Kallie; Katz, Caitlin; and Barnes, Maria, "Comparative analysis of curcumin’s effect on NMDA receptors in obese male and female hypertensive mice" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 40.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/40
Comparative analysis of curcumin’s effect on NMDA receptors in obese male and female hypertensive mice
Curcumin, a bioactive compound derived from turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been reported to lower systolic blood pressure. Previous work in our laboratory showed that curcumin lowered systolic blood pressure in obese, estrogen-deficient female (OVX) mice. However, the same effect was not observed in obese estrogen-replete female (SHAM) or obese male mice. This study tested the hypothesis that, in the absence of estrogen, curcumin can mimic the actions of estrogen to lower blood pressure by decreasing the phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (p-NMDAR). A decrease in phosphorylation would ultimately impact the activation of glutamatergic or GABAergic neurons involved in blood pressure regulation. Obese male and female (SHAM and OVX) mice were administered either piperine (control) or curcumin plus piperine (treatment) for thirty days. Protein was extracted from the hypothalamus, and western blot analysis was performed to identify changes in the expression of p-NMDAR. All data were normalized to beta-actin. The development of obesity in both groups of female mice (SHAM and OVX) resulted in a significant increase in p-NMDAR (p=0.0389 and p=0.0003, respectively). Only in obese ovariectomized mice did we observe a significant decrease in p-NMDAR (p=0.001). Neither the development of obesity nor the consumption of curcumin affected the expression of p-NMDAR in male mice. Taken together, these results provide a foundation that highlights curcumin’s potential as a therapeutic strategy for regulating postmenopausal hypertension.
