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Valencia-Olvera AC, Balu D, Faulk N, Amiridis A, Wang Y, Pham C, Avila-Munoz E, York JM, Thatcher GRJ, LaDu MJ. Inhibition of ACAT as a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer's Disease Is Independent of ApoE4 Lipidation. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1120-1137. [PMID: 37157042 PMCID: PMC10457278 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
APOE4, encoding apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4), is the greatest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), compared to the common APOE3. While the mechanism(s) underlying APOE4-induced AD risk remains unclear, increasing the lipidation of apoE4 is an important therapeutic target as apoE4-lipoproteins are poorly lipidated compared to apoE3-lipoproteins. ACAT (acyl-CoA: cholesterol-acyltransferase) catalyzes the formation of intracellular cholesteryl-ester droplets, reducing the intracellular free cholesterol (FC) pool. Thus, inhibiting ACAT increases the FC pool and facilitates lipid secretion to extracellular apoE-containing lipoproteins. Previous studies using commercial ACAT inhibitors, including avasimibe (AVAS), as well as ACAT-knock out (KO) mice, exhibit reduced AD-like pathology and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing in familial AD (FAD)-transgenic (Tg) mice. However, the effects of AVAS with human apoE4 remain unknown. In vitro, AVAS induced apoE efflux at concentrations of AVAS measured in the brains of treated mice. AVAS treatment of male E4FAD-Tg mice (5xFAD+/-APOE4+/+) at 6-8 months had no effect on plasma cholesterol levels or distribution, the original mechanism for AVAS treatment of CVD. In the CNS, AVAS reduced intracellular lipid droplets, indirectly demonstrating target engagement. Surrogate efficacy was demonstrated by an increase in Morris water maze measures of memory and postsynaptic protein levels. Amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) solubility/deposition and neuroinflammation were reduced, critical components of APOE4-modulated pathology. However, there was no increase in apoE4 levels or apoE4 lipidation, while amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic processing of APP were significantly reduced. This suggests that the AVAS-induced reduction in Aβ via reduced APP processing was sufficient to reduce AD pathology, as apoE4-lipoproteins remained poorly lipidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C. Valencia-Olvera
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Deebika Balu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Naomi Faulk
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | | | - Yueting Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
- Present Address: AbbVie Inc., 1 N. Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 USA
| | - Christine Pham
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Eva Avila-Munoz
- Syneos Health, Av. Gustavo Baz 309, La Loma, Tlalnepantla de Baz, 54060 Mexico
| | - Jason M. York
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Gregory R. J. Thatcher
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Arizona, 1703 E Mabel St., Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
| | - Mary Jo LaDu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
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Upregulation of the endogenous peptide antisecretory factor enhances hippocampal long-term potentiation and promotes learning in wistar rats. Neuroscience 2022; 490:120-130. [PMID: 35276306 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Antisecretory Factor (AF) is an endogenous peptide known for its powerful antisecretory and anti-inflammatory properties. We have previously shown that AF also acts as a neuromodulator of GABAergic synaptic transmission in rat hippocampus in a way that results in disinhibition of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Disinhibition is expected to facilitate the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), and LTP is known to play a crucial role in learning and memory acquisition. In the present study we investigated the effect of AF on LTP in CA3-CA1 synapses in rat hippocampus. In addition, endogenous AF plasma activity was upregulated by feeding the rats with specially processed cereals (SPC) and spatial learning and memory was studied in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). We found that LTP was significantly enhanced in the presence of AF, both when added exogenously in vitro as well as when upregulated endogenously by SPC-feeding. In the presence of the GABAA-receptor antagonist picrotoxin (PTX) there was however no significant enhancement of LTP. Moreover, rats fed with SPC demonstrated enhanced spatial learning and short-term memory, compared with control animals. These results show that the disinhibition of GABAergic transmission in the hippocampus by the endogenous peptide AF enhances LTP as well as spatial learning and memory.
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Koomson AE, Kukuia KKE, Amoateng P, Biney RP, Tagoe TA, Mensah JA, Ameyaw EO, Torbi J, Amponsah SK. Extract of Xylopia aethiopica and its Kaurene Diterpene, Xylopic Acid, Improve Learning and Memory in Mice. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 12:249-259. [PMID: 35746979 PMCID: PMC9210480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Awo Efua Koomson
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kennedy Kwami Edem Kukuia
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana
- Correspondence to: Department of Medical Pharmacology, University of Ghana Medical School College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Patrick Amoateng
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O Box LG 43, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Corresponding author.
| | - Robert Peter Biney
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Thomas Amatey Tagoe
- Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jeffrey Amoako Mensah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Elvis Ofori Ameyaw
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Joseph Torbi
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Seth Kwabena Amponsah
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana
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Harry GJ, McBride S, Witchey SK, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Trembleau A, Bridge M, Bencsik A. Roadbumps at the Crossroads of Integrating Behavioral and In Vitro Approaches for Neurotoxicity Assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:812863. [PMID: 35295216 PMCID: PMC8915899 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.812863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the appreciation that behavior represents the integration and complexity of the nervous system, neurobehavioral phenotyping and assessment has seen a renaissance over the last couple of decades, resulting in a robust database on rodent performance within various testing paradigms, possible associations with human disorders, and therapeutic interventions. The interchange of data across behavior and other test modalities and multiple model systems has advanced our understanding of fundamental biology and mechanisms associated with normal functions and alterations in the nervous system. While there is a demonstrated value and power of neurobehavioral assessments for examining alterations due to genetic manipulations, maternal factors, early development environment, the applied use of behavior to assess environmental neurotoxicity continues to come under question as to whether behavior represents a sensitive endpoint for assessment. Why is rodent behavior a sensitive tool to the neuroscientist and yet, not when used in pre-clinical or chemical neurotoxicity studies? Applying new paradigms and evidence on the biological basis of behavior to neurobehavioral testing requires expertise and refinement of how such experiments are conducted to minimize variability and maximize information. This review presents relevant issues of methods used to conduct such test, sources of variability, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It presents beneficial and critical limitations as they translate to the in vivo environment and considers the need to integrate across disciplines for the best value. It proposes that a refinement of behavioral assessments and understanding of subtle pronounced differences will facilitate the integration of data obtained across multiple approaches and to address issues of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Jean Harry
- Neurotoxicology Group, Molecular Toxicology Branch, Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: G. Jean Harry,
| | - Sandra McBride
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shannah K. Witchey
- Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine – Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Alain Trembleau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris, France
| | - Matthew Bridge
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Bencsik
- Anses Laboratoire de Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université de Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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Xiong L, Huang J, Gao Y, Gao Y, Wu C, He S, Zou L, Yang D, Han Y, Yuan Q, Zheng Z, Hu G. Sodium arsenite induces spatial learning and memory impairment associated with oxidative stress and activates the Nrf2/PPARγ pathway against oxidative injury in mice hippocampus. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 10:277-283. [PMID: 33884178 PMCID: PMC8045596 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous environmental and industrial toxin with known correlates of oxidative stress and cognitive deficits in the brain. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcriptional factor that represents a central cellular antioxidant defense mechanism and transcribes many antioxidant genes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) is a well-known nuclear receptor to regulate lipid metabolism in many tissues, and it has been also associated with the control of oxidative stress, neuronal death, neurogenesis and differentiation. The role of Nrf2 and PPARγ in As-induced neurotoxicity is still debated. The present study was designed to investigate the neurobehavioral toxic effect of sub-chronic and middle-dose sodium arsenite exposure in mice hippocampus, as well as the response of Nrf2/PPARγ expression and influence on protein expression levels of their downstream antioxidant genes. Our results showed that mice treated with intraperitoneal injection of sodium arsenite (50 mg/kg body wt.) twice a week for 7 weeks resulted in increased generation of reactive oxygen species and impairment of spatial cognitive function. The present study also found a positive association between Nrf2/PPARγ expression in hippocampus of mice, and activation of antioxidant defenses by the evidently upregulated expression of their downstream genes, including superoxide dismutase, heme oxygenase-1 and glutathione peroxidase-3. Therefore, our findings were helpful for further understanding the role of Nrf2/PPARγ feedback loop in As-induced neurobehavioral toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jinyu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of rehabilitation medicine, School of Rehabilitation, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yanfang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Chunmei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shengfa He
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lijun Zou
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Dongmei Yang
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yuhao Han
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiong Yuan
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zuobing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Gonghua Hu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, China
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Number 1 Yixueyuan Road, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China
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Offline consolidation of spatial memory: Do the cerebellar output circuits play a role? A study utilizing a Morris water maze protocol in male Wistar rats. Brain Res 2019; 1718:148-158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Yang ZY, Yuan CX. IL-17A promotes the neuroinflammation and cognitive function in sevoflurane anesthetized aged rats via activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. BMC Anesthesiol 2018; 18:147. [PMID: 30342469 PMCID: PMC6195755 DOI: 10.1186/s12871-018-0607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To investigate the role of IL-17A in the neuroinflammation and cognitive function of aged rats anaesthetized with sevoflurane through NF-κB pathway. Method The aged and young adult rats were randomly divided into Control (inhale oxygen only), Sevoflurane (inhale oxygen and sevoflurane), Sevo (Sevoflurane) + anti-IL-17A (injected with IL-17A antibody, inhale oxygen and sevoflurane), and Sevo + NC groups (injected with IgG2a antibody, inhale oxygen and sevoflurane). Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze and contextual fear conditioning tests. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 expressions in the hippocampus of rats were detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) assay, and Nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway-related proteins by Western blot. Results Sevoflurane anaesthetized aged rats showed longer escape latency and swimming distance, fewer platform crossing times, shortened stay time in the platform quadrant compared to Control rats; In addition, increased levels in hippocampal expression of malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-17A, NF-κB p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2, as well as a reduced level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were also observed in these animals. However, the sevoflurane anesthetized aged rats treated with anti-IL-17A presented a completely opposite tendency concerning the above factors (all P < 0.05). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in the acquisition of learning or memory, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress of young adult rats in all groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion Anti-IL-17A may alleviate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress via inhibiting NF-κB pathway, thereby attenuating post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in aged rats anaesthetized with sevoflurane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Yun Yang
- Department of Anesthesia Surgery, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, No.6, Jiankang Road, Rencheng District, Jining, 272000, Shandong, China
| | - Chang-Xiu Yuan
- Department of Anesthesia Surgery, Jining NO.1 People's Hospital, No.6, Jiankang Road, Rencheng District, Jining, 272000, Shandong, China.
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Tucker LB, Velosky AG, McCabe JT. Applications of the Morris water maze in translational traumatic brain injury research. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 88:187-200. [PMID: 29545166 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI) is frequently accompanied by persistent cognitive symptoms, including executive function disruptions and memory deficits. The Morris Water Maze (MWM) is the most widely-employed laboratory behavioral test for assessing cognitive deficits in rodents after experimental TBI. Numerous protocols exist for performing the test, which has shown great robustness in detecting learning and memory deficits in rodents after infliction of TBI. We review applications of the MWM for the study of cognitive deficits following TBI in pre-clinical studies, describing multiple ways in which the test can be employed to examine specific aspects of learning and memory. Emphasis is placed on dependent measures that are available and important controls that must be considered in the context of TBI. Finally, caution is given regarding interpretation of deficits as being indicative of dysfunction of a single brain region (hippocampus), as experimental models of TBI most often result in more diffuse damage that disrupts multiple neural pathways and larger functional networks that participate in complex behaviors required in MWM performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Tucker
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA; Pre-Clinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301, Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
| | - Alexander G Velosky
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
| | - Joseph T McCabe
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Genetics, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA; Pre-Clinical Studies Core, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, F.E. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301, Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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Sun H, Yang Y, Shao H, Sun W, Gu M, Wang H, Jiang L, Qu L, Sun D, Gao Y. Sodium Arsenite-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment Is Associated with Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Apoptosis in Rat Hippocampus. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:286. [PMID: 28936164 PMCID: PMC5594089 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic arsenic exposure has been associated to cognitive deficits. However, mechanisms remain unknown. The present study investigated the neurotoxic effects of sodium arsenite in drinking water over different dosages and time periods. Based on results from the Morris water maze (MWM) and morphological analysis, an exposure to sodium arsenite could induce neuronal damage in the hippocampus, reduce learning ability, and accelerate memory impairment. Sodium arsenite significantly increased homocysteine levels in serum and brain. Moreover, sodium arsenite triggered unfolded protein response (UPR), leading to the phosphorylation of RNA-regulated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit α (eIF2α), and the induction of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Arsenite exposure also stimulated the expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) and the cleavage of caspase-12. Furthermore, exposure to arsenite enhanced apoptosis as demonstrated by expression of caspase-3 and TUNEL assay in the hippocampus. The results suggest that exposure to arsenite can significantly decrease learning ability and accelerate memory impairment. Potential mechanisms are related to enhancement of homocysteine and ER stress-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongna Sun
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Yanmei Yang
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Hanwen Shao
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Weiwei Sun
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Muyu Gu
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Lixin Jiang
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Lisha Qu
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Dianjun Sun
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
| | - Yanhui Gao
- Key Lab of Etiology and Epidemiology, Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province & Ministry of Health, Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China.,Institution of Environmentally Related Diseases, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, China
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Prenatal noise stress impairs HPA axis and cognitive performance in mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10560. [PMID: 28874680 PMCID: PMC5585382 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-09799-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Noise stress is a common environmental pollutant whose adverse effect on offspring performance has been less studied. This study was novel in terms of using “noise” as a prenatal stress compared with physical stress to explore the effect of stress during gestation on HPA axis activation, cognitive performance, and motor coordination, as well as in investigating the effect of behavioral assessments on the corticosterone (CORT) levels. Three groups of C57BL/6 mice with a gestational history of either noise stress (NS), physical stress (PS), or no stress were examined in several behavioral tests. Plasma CORT level was significantly higher before starting the behavioral tests in NS group than the two other groups. It was significantly increased after the behavioral tests in both prenatal stressed groups relative to the controls. Stress caused anxiety-like behavior and reduced learning and memory performance in both stressed groups compared to the controls, as well as decreased motor coordination in the NS group relative to the other groups. The findings suggested that: prenatal NS severely changes the HPA axis; both prenatal stressors, and particularly NS, negatively impair the offspring’s cognitive and motor performance; and, they also cause a strong susceptibility to interpret environmental experiences as stressful conditions.
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Piber D, Nowacki J, Mueller SC, Wingenfeld K, Otte C. Sex effects on spatial learning but not on spatial memory retrieval in healthy young adults. Behav Brain Res 2017; 336:44-50. [PMID: 28847444 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sex differences have been found in spatial learning and spatial memory, with several studies indicating that males outperform females. We tested in the virtual Morris Water Maze (vMWM) task, whether sex differences in spatial cognitive processes are attributable to differences in spatial learning or spatial memory retrieval in a large student sample. METHODS We tested 90 healthy students (45 women and 45 men) with a mean age of 23.5 years (SD=3.5). Spatial learning and spatial memory retrieval were measured by using the vMWM task, during which participants had to search a virtual pool for a hidden platform, facilitated by visual cues surrounding the pool. Several learning trials assessed spatial learning, while a separate probe trial assessed spatial memory retrieval. RESULTS We found a significant sex effect during spatial learning, with males showing shorter latency and shorter path length, as compared to females (all p<0.001). Yet, there was no significant sex effect in spatial memory retrieval (p=0.615). Furthermore, post-hoc analyses revealed significant sex differences in spatial search strategies (p<0.05), but no difference in the number of platform crossings (p=0.375). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that in healthy young adults, males show faster spatial learning in a virtual environment, as compared to females. Interestingly, we found no significant sex differences during spatial memory retrieval. Our study raises the question, whether men and women use different learning strategies, which nevertheless result in equal performances of spatial memory retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Piber
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jan Nowacki
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Katja Wingenfeld
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Otte
- Department of Psychiatry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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Stroobants S, Damme M, Van der Jeugd A, Vermaercke B, Andersson C, Fogh J, Saftig P, Blanz J, D'Hooge R. Long-term enzyme replacement therapy improves neurocognitive functioning and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in immune-tolerant alpha-mannosidosis mice. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 106:255-268. [PMID: 28720484 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-mannosidosis is a glycoproteinosis caused by deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha-mannosidase (LAMAN), which markedly affects neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), and causes pathognomonic intellectual dysfunction in the clinical condition. Cognitive improvement consequently remains a major therapeutic objective in research on this devastating genetic error. Immune-tolerant LAMAN knockout mice were developed to evaluate the effects of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) by prolonged administration of recombinant human enzyme. Biochemical evidence suggested that hippocampus may be one of the brain structures that benefits most from long-term ERT. In the present functional study, ERT was initiated in 2-month-old immune-tolerant alpha-mannosidosis mice and continued for 9months. During the course of treatment, mice were trained in the Morris water maze task to assess spatial-cognitive performance, which was related to synaptic plasticity recordings and hippocampal histopathology. Long-term ERT reduced primary substrate storage and neuroinflammation in hippocampus, and improved spatial learning after mid-term (10weeks+) and long-term (30weeks+) treatment. Long-term treatment substantially improved the spatial-cognitive abilities of alpha-mannosidosis mice, whereas the effects of mid-term treatment were more modest. Detailed analyses of spatial memory and spatial-cognitive performance indicated that even prolonged ERT did not restore higher cognitive abilities to the level of healthy mice. However, it did demonstrate marked therapeutic effects that coincided with increased synaptic connectivity, reflected by improvements in hippocampal CA3-CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP), expression of postsynaptic marker PSD-95 as well as postsynaptic density morphology. These experiments indicate that long-term ERT may hold promise, not only for the somatic defects of alpha-mannosidosis, but also to alleviate cognitive impairments of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn Stroobants
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Markus Damme
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Ann Van der Jeugd
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Ben Vermaercke
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | | | - Jens Fogh
- Zymenex A/S, Roskildevej 12C, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark.
| | - Paul Saftig
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Judith Blanz
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstrasse 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Jafari Z, Mehla J, Afrashteh N, Kolb BE, Mohajerani MH. Corticosterone response to gestational stress and postpartum memory function in mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180306. [PMID: 28692696 PMCID: PMC5503237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal stress is a common adversity during pregnancy. Gestational corticosterone alternations are thought to contribute to the etiology of postpartum behavioral disturbances. However, the impact of stress during pregnancy, in particular noise exposure, on gestational corticosterone fluctuations and spatial cognition in postpartum mice has not been fully understood yet. We hypothesized that noise exposure during pregnancy negatively affects gestational corticosterone levels and postpartum memory function in the dams similar to the physical stressors. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to either one of two stress conditions or a control condition. The noise stress (NS) was induced by presenting a loud intermittent 3000 Hz frequency on gestational days (GDs) 12, 14, and 16 for 24 hours, whereas the physical stress (PS) consisted of restraint and exposure to an elevated platform on GDs 12–16. Plasma corticosterone level was collected on GDs 11 and 17, and Morris water task (MWT) was carried out 30 days after parturition. Compared to the control group, the level of corticosterone in the stressed groups was significantly increased on GD17 relative to GD11. Significantly longer swim time and lower swim speed were observed in both stressed groups relative to the control group. Probe time was significantly shorter in the NS group than the other groups. The delta corticosterone level was significantly correlated with the swim time as well as the probe time in the three groups. Given the results, the adverse effects of gestational noise exposure on the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and postpartum spatial learning and memory function were as large as/ or a bit stronger than the physical stresses. The findings suggest the significance of conservation against loud noise exposure in daily living, as well as need to further notice to the different aspects of gestational stress in mothers’ behavior like offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Jafari
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Science (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Jogender Mehla
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Navvab Afrashteh
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Bryan E. Kolb
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- * E-mail: (BEK); (MHM)
| | - Majid H. Mohajerani
- Department of Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
- * E-mail: (BEK); (MHM)
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Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhu G, Sun J, Bi X, Baudry M. A calpain-2 selective inhibitor enhances learning & memory by prolonging ERK activation. Neuropharmacology 2016; 105:471-477. [PMID: 26907807 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
While calpain-1 activation is required for LTP induction by theta burst stimulation (TBS), calpain-2 activation limits its magnitude during the consolidation period. A selective calpain-2 inhibitor applied either before or shortly after TBS enhanced the degree of potentiation. In the present study, we tested whether the selective calpain-2 inhibitor, Z-Leu-Abu-CONH-CH2-C6H3 (3, 5-(OMe)2 (C2I), could enhance learning and memory in wild-type (WT) and calpain-1 knock-out (C1KO) mice. We first showed that C2I could reestablish TBS-LTP in hippocampal slices from C1KO mice, and this effect was blocked by PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK. TBS resulted in PTEN degradation in hippocampal slices from both WT and C1KO mice, and C2I treatment blocked this effect in both mouse genotypes. Systemic injection of C2I 30 min before training in the fear-conditioning paradigm resulted in a biphasic dose-response curve, with low doses enhancing and high doses inhibiting freezing behavior. The difference between the doses needed to enhance and inhibit learning matches the difference in concentrations producing inhibition of calpain-2 and calpain-1. A low dose of C2I also restored normal learning in a novel object recognition task in C1KO mice. Levels of SCOP, a ERK phosphatase known to be cleaved by calpain-1, were decreased in dorsal hippocampus early but not late following training in WT mice; C2I treatment did not affect the early decrease in SCOP levels but prevented its recovery at the later time-point and prolonged ERK activation. The results indicate that calpain-2 activation limits the extent of learning, an effect possibly due to temporal limitation of ERK activation, as a result of SCOP synthesis induced by calpain-2-mediated PTEN degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Yubin Wang
- Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Jiandong Sun
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Xiaoning Bi
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Michel Baudry
- Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA.
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Reprint of “Value of water mazes for assessing spatial and egocentric learning and memory in rodent basic research and regulatory studies”. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2015; 52:93-108. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Vorhees CV, Williams MT. Value of water mazes for assessing spatial and egocentric learning and memory in rodent basic research and regulatory studies. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2014; 45:75-90. [PMID: 25116937 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Maneuvering safely through the environment is central to survival of all animals. The ability to do this depends on learning and remembering locations. This capacity is encoded in the brain by two systems: one using cues outside the organism (distal cues), allocentric navigation, and one using self-movement, internal cues and sometimes proximal cues, egocentric navigation. Allocentric navigation involves the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and surrounding structures (e.g., subiculum); in humans this system encodes declarative memory (allocentric, semantic, and episodic, i.e., memory for people, places, things, and events). This form of memory is assessed in laboratory animals by many methods, but predominantly the Morris water maze (MWM). Egocentric navigation involves the dorsal striatum and connected structures; in humans this system encodes routes and integrated paths and when over-learned becomes implicit or procedural memory. Several allocentric methods for rodents are reviewed and compared with the MWM with particular focus on the Cincinnati water maze (CWM). MWM advantages include minimal training, no food deprivation, ease of testing, reliable learning, insensitivity to differences in body weight and appetite, absence of non-performers, control methods for performance effects, repeated testing capability and other factors that make this test well-suited for regulatory studies. MWM limitations are also reviewed. Evidence-based MWM design and testing methods are presented. On balance, the MWM is arguably the preferred test for assessing learning and memory in basic research and regulatory studies and the CWM is recommended if two tests can be accommodated so that both allocentric (MWM) and egocentric (CWM) learning and memory can be effectively and efficiently assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles V Vorhees
- Division of Child Neurology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States.
| | - Michael T Williams
- Division of Child Neurology, Dept. of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, United States
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Abstract
Maneuvering safely through the environment is central to survival of almost all species. The ability to do this depends on learning and remembering locations. This capacity is encoded in the brain by two systems: one using cues outside the organism (distal cues), allocentric navigation, and one using self-movement, internal cues and nearby proximal cues, egocentric navigation. Allocentric navigation involves the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and surrounding structures; in humans this system encodes allocentric, semantic, and episodic memory. This form of memory is assessed in laboratory animals in many ways, but the dominant form of assessment is the Morris water maze (MWM). Egocentric navigation involves the dorsal striatum and connected structures; in humans this system encodes routes and integrated paths and, when overlearned, becomes procedural memory. In this article, several allocentric assessment methods for rodents are reviewed and compared with the MWM. MWM advantages (little training required, no food deprivation, ease of testing, rapid and reliable learning, insensitivity to differences in body weight and appetite, absence of nonperformers, control methods for proximal cue learning, and performance effects) and disadvantages (concern about stress, perhaps not as sensitive for working memory) are discussed. Evidence-based design improvements and testing methods are reviewed for both rats and mice. Experimental factors that apply generally to spatial navigation and to MWM specifically are considered. It is concluded that, on balance, the MWM has more advantages than disadvantages and compares favorably with other allocentric navigation tasks.
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Tang H, Hua F, Wang J, Sayeed I, Wang X, Chen Z, Yousuf S, Atif F, Stein DG. Progesterone and vitamin D: Improvement after traumatic brain injury in middle-aged rats. Horm Behav 2013; 64:527-38. [PMID: 23896206 PMCID: PMC3833454 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone (PROG) and vitamin D hormone (VDH) have both shown promise in treating traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both modulate apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and excitotoxicity. We investigated whether 21 days of VDH deficiency would alter cognitive behavior after TBI and whether combined PROG and VDH would improve behavioral and morphological outcomes more than either hormone alone in VDH-deficient middle-aged rats given bilateral contusions of the medial frontal cortex. PROG (16 mg/kg) and VDH (5 μg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally 1 h post-injury. Eight additional doses of PROG were injected subcutaneously over 7 days post-injury. VDH deficiency itself did not significantly reduce baseline behavioral functions or aggravate impaired cognitive outcomes. Combination therapy showed moderate improvement in preserving spatial and reference memory but was not significantly better than PROG monotherapy. However, combination therapy significantly reduced neuronal loss and the proliferation of reactive astrocytes, and showed better efficacy compared to VDH or PROG alone in preventing MAP-2 degradation. VDH+PROG combination therapy may attenuate some of the potential long-term, subtle, pathophysiological consequences of brain injury in older subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiling Tang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Fang Hua
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Iqbal Sayeed
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Zhengjia Chen
- Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Seema Yousuf
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Fahim Atif
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Donald G. Stein
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Address for correspondence: Donald G. Stein, Ph.D., Emory University, 1365 B Clifton Rd NE, Suite 5100, Atlanta GA 30322 USA, 404 712 2540 voice, 404 727 2388 fax,
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Liraz O, Boehm-Cagan A, Michaelson DM. ApoE4 induces Aβ42, tau, and neuronal pathology in the hippocampus of young targeted replacement apoE4 mice. Mol Neurodegener 2013; 8:16. [PMID: 23684315 PMCID: PMC3659080 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-8-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent findings suggest that the pathological effects of apoE4, the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), start many years before the onset of the disease and are already detectable at a young age. In the present study we investigated the extent to which such pathological and cognitive impairments also occur in young apoE4 mice. Results This study revealed that the levels of the presynaptic glutamatergic vesicular transporter, VGlut, in the CA3, CA1, and DG hippocampal subfields were lower in hippocampal neurons of young (4-month-old) apoE4-targeted replacement mice than in those of the apoE3 mice. In contrast, the corresponding inhibitory GABAergic nerve terminals and perikarya were not affected by apoE4. This synaptic effect was associated with hyperphosphorylation of tau in these neurons. In addition, apoE4 increased the accumulation of neuronal Aβ42 and induced mitochondrial changes, both of which were specifically pronounced in CA3 neurons. Spatial navigation behavioral studies revealed that these hippocampal pathological effects of apoE4 are associated with corresponding behavioral impairments. Time-course studies revealed that the effects of apoE4 on tau hyperphosphorylation and the mitochondria were already apparent at the age of 1 month and that the apoE4-driven accumulation of neuronal Aβ and reduced VGlut levels evolve later and are apparent at the age of 2–4 months. Furthermore, the levels of tau phosphorylation decrease in apoE3 mice and increase in apoE4 mice between 1 and 4 months, whereas the levels of Aβ42 decrease in apoE3 mice and are not affected in apoE4 mice over the same time period. Conclusions These findings show that apoE4 stimulates the accumulation of Aβ42 and hyperphosphorylated tau and reduces the levels of VGlut in hippocampal neurons of young apoE4-targeted replacement mice and that these neurochemical effects are associated with cognitive impairments. This model is not associated with hypothesis-driven mechanistic manipulations and is thus most suitable for unbiased studies of the mechanisms underlying the pathological effects of apoE4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ori Liraz
- Department of Neurobiology, The George S, Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
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Vigorito M, Cao J, Li MD, Chang SL. Acquisition and long-term retention of spatial learning in the human immunodeficiency virus-1 transgenic rat: effects of repeated nicotine treatment. J Neurovirol 2013; 19:157-65. [PMID: 23456952 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-013-0154-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The HIV-1 transgenic (HIV-1Tg) rat shows a deficit in learning to locate a submerged platform in a multiple-trial water maze task compared to transgenic littermate and F344 control rats (Vigorito et al., J.Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2:319-328, 2007; Lashomb et al., J.Neurovirol 15:14-24, 2009). Nicotine is known to have neuroprotective effects possibly by minimizing cytotoxic effects of glutamate or by modulating a cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. Nicotine also improves performance in a variety of learning tasks by enhancing attention and short-term memory (STM). The purpose of this study was to determine if the learning deficit in HIV-1Tg is ameliorated by repeated nicotine treatment independent of its effects on STM. HIV-1Tg and F344 rats were treated (subcutaneous) with nicotine (0.25 mg/kg/injection) or saline twice daily and tested in a single-trial-per-day procedure which precludes the impact of STM on the acquisition of the spatial learning task. HIV-1Tg rats showed a deficit in the acquisition of the task and in the long-term retention for the platform location in a probe test. Nicotine did not ameliorate the deficit in HIV-1Tg rats and slightly worsened performance during acquisition. Analysis of individual differences in performance during the probe test suggested that nicotine improved performance in some F344 rats but not in HIV-1Tg rats. These results indicate that a deficit in the consolidation of long-term memory contributes to the acquisition deficit of HIV1-Tg rats. The results, however, do not provide any evidence of the amelioration of the learning deficit observed in this behavioral model at least with the nicotine dose tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Vigorito
- Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Avenue, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA
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Hua F, Reiss JI, Tang H, Wang J, Fowler X, Sayeed I, Stein DG. Progesterone and low-dose vitamin D hormone treatment enhances sparing of memory following traumatic brain injury. Horm Behav 2012; 61:642-51. [PMID: 22570859 PMCID: PMC3517217 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone (PROG) has been shown to protect the brain from traumatic injury and is now in Phase III clinical trials. Our work shows that PROG's beneficial effects can be reduced in vitamin D hormone (VDH)-deficient subjects. VDH can modulate neuronal apoptosis, trophic factors, inflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and myelin and axon repair. We investigated whether VDH combined with PROG could improve behavioral outcomes more than PROG alone in VDH-sufficient rats given bilateral contusions of the medial frontal cortex. PROG and different doses of VDH (1 μg/kg, VDH1; 2.5 μg/kg, VDH2; 5 μg/kg, VDH3) were injected intraperitoneally 1 h post-injury. Eight additional doses of PROG were given subcutaneously over 8 days with tapering over the last 2 days. Neurobehavioral tests, necrotic cavity, neuronal death and activation of astrocytes were evaluated 21 days post-injury. We found that PROG and PROG + VDH preserve spatial memory processing. VDH1 + PROG improved performance in acquisition more effectively than PROG alone, indicating that the low VDH dose is optimal for combination therapy. There were no significant differences in necrotic cavity size among the groups. The density of positive staining for reactive astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)) increased and the cell bodies and processes of GFAP-positive cells were enlarged in the PROG + VDH1 group. Our data indicate that the combination of PROG and VDH is more effective than PROG alone in preserving spatial and reference memory, and that PROG plus low-dose VDH can activateGFAP reactions up to 21 days after injury. This effect may be one of the mechanisms underlying PROG's neuroprotective effects in combination with VDH.
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Faldini E, Stroobants S, Lüllmann-Rauch R, Eckhardt M, Gieselmann V, Balschun D, D’Hooge R. Telencephalic histopathology and changes in behavioural and neural plasticity in a murine model for metachromatic leukodystrophy. Behav Brain Res 2011; 222:309-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2011.03.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Revised: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Paul CM, Magda G, Abel S. Spatial memory: Theoretical basis and comparative review on experimental methods in rodents. Behav Brain Res 2009; 203:151-64. [PMID: 19467271 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2009] [Accepted: 05/17/2009] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of learning and memory in animal models has been widely employed in scientific research for a long time. Among these models, those representing diseases with primary processes of affected memory - such as amnesia, dementia, brain aging, etc. - studies dealing with the toxic effects of specific drugs, and other exploring neurodevelopment, trauma, epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorders, are often called on to employ these tools. There is a diversity of experimental methods assessing animal learning and memory skills. Overall, mazes are the devices mostly used today to test memory in rodents; there are several types of them, but their real usefulness, advantages and applications remain to be fully established and depend on the particular variant selected by the experimenter. The aims of the present article are first, to briefly review the accumulated knowledge in regard to spatial memory tasks; second, to bring the reader information on the different types of rodent mazes available to test spatial memory; and third, to elucidate the usefulness and limitations of each of these devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrillo-Mora Paul
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Mexico City 14269, Mexico.
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Secher T, Berezin V, Bock E, Glenthøj B. Effect of an NCAM mimetic peptide FGL on impairment in spatial learning and memory after neonatal phencyclidine treatment in rats. Behav Brain Res 2008; 199:288-97. [PMID: 19133297 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2008] [Revised: 12/02/2008] [Accepted: 12/07/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The FGL peptide is a neural cell adhesion molecule-derived fibroblast growth factor receptor agonist. FGL has both neurotrophic and memory enhancing properties. Neonatal phencyclidine (PCP) treatment on postnatal days 7, 9, and 11 has been shown to result in long-lasting behavioral abnormalities, including cognitive impairment relevant to schizophrenia. The present study investigated the effect of FGL on spatial learning and memory deficits induced by neonatal PCP treatment. Rat pups were treated with 30 mg/kg PCP on postnatal days 7, 9, and 11. Additionally, the rats were subjected to a chronic FGL treatment regimen where FGL was administered throughout development. Rats were tested as adults for spatial reference memory, reversal learning, and working memory in the Morris water maze. The PCP-treated rats demonstrated a robust impairment in working memory and reversal learning. However, the long-term memory component of the reference memory task was not affected by PCP. Chronic FGL treatment had no effect on the reversal learning impairment but ameliorated the working memory deficits almost to the levels of the control groups. In conclusion, the results suggest that the neonatal PCP treatment produced deficits in cognition relevant to schizophrenia. Moreover, working memory function was selectively protected by the neurotrophic peptide, FGL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Secher
- Protein Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Spritzer MD, Gill M, Weinberg A, Galea LAM. Castration differentially affects spatial working and reference memory in male rats. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2008; 37:19-29. [PMID: 18058217 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-007-9264-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
A male advantage for spatial learning and memory tasks is well documented among humans and rodents. A possible physiological cause for this male advantage is activational effects of androgens among males. The spatial memory of eight castrated and eight sham-castrated adult male rats was compared using a working-reference memory version of the eight-arm radial arm maze followed by a reference memory version of the Morris water maze. After maze testing, blood was collected from each rat, and testosterone levels were determined using radioimmunoassay. In the radial arm maze, castrates committed significantly more working memory errors and significantly fewer reference memory errors than did shams. In the water maze, no statistically significant differences were found for acquisition or retention. There was a trend for shams with higher testosterone levels to have better retention in the water maze, but this seemed to be due to higher levels of perseverance rather than better reference memory. Castration may have affected performance in the radial arm maze and not in the water maze because the radial arm maze was a more difficult task or because the water maze was aversively motivated while the radial arm maze was appetitively motivated. Our results indicate that androgens improve working memory and may impair reference memory, but the effects of androgens on reference memory seem to be task dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Spritzer
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Nitric oxide synthase inhibition attenuates phencyclidine-induced disruption of cognitive flexibility. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2008; 89:352-9. [PMID: 18321564 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2008.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2007] [Revised: 01/07/2008] [Accepted: 01/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia encompasses, amongst other symptoms, a heavy load of cognitive dysfunctionality. Using the psychotomimetic agent, phencyclidine (PCP), we have previously found that PCP-induced disruptions of cognitive function in translational rodent models of schizophrenia are dependent on nitric oxide (NO) production. In the present study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a Morris water maze task designed to assess cognitive flexibility (i.e. the ability to cope with an increasingly demanding cognitive task) by means of a "constant reversal learning paradigm". Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME (10 mg/kg), on PCP-induced (2 mg/kg) impairments. Control animals significantly improved their learning over the first 3 consecutive days, whereas PCP-treated animals failed to show any significant learning. Pretreatment with L-NAME normalized the PCP-induced disruption of learning to control levels. These findings suggest that PCP-induced disruptions of cognitive flexibility (i.e. ability to modify behaviour according to an increasingly demanding cognitive task) are dependent upon NO production. These observations, together with accumulated clinical findings, suggest that the NO system is a potential treatment target for cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia.
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Bonini JS, Da Silva WC, Bevilaqua LRM, Medina JH, Izquierdo I, Cammarota M. On the participation of hippocampal PKC in acquisition, consolidation and reconsolidation of spatial memory. Neuroscience 2007; 147:37-45. [PMID: 17499932 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2007] [Revised: 04/04/2007] [Accepted: 04/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Memory consolidation involves a sequence of temporally defined and highly regulated changes in the activation state of several signaling pathways that leads to the lasting storage of an initially labile trace. Despite appearances, consolidation does not make memories permanent. It is now known that upon retrieval well-consolidated memories can become again vulnerable to the action of amnesic agents and in order to persist must undergo a protein synthesis-dependent process named reconsolidation. Experiments with genetically modified animals suggest that some PKC isoforms are important for spatial memory and earlier studies indicate that several PKC substrates are activated following spatial learning. Nevertheless, none of the reports published so far analyzed pharmacologically the role played by PKC during spatial memory processing. Using the conventional PKC and PKCmu inhibitor 12-(2-cyanoethyl)-6,7,12,13-tetrahydro-13-methyl-5-oxo-5H-indolo[2,3-a]pyrrollo[3,4-c]carbazole (Gö6976) we found that the activity of these kinases is required in the CA1 region of the rat dorsal hippocampus for acquisition and consolidation of spatial memory in the Morris water maze learning task. Our results also show that when infused into dorsal CA1 after non-reinforced retrieval, Gö6976 produces a long-lasting amnesia that is independent of the strength of the memory trace, suggesting that post-retrieval activation of hippocampal PKC is essential for persistence of spatial memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Bonini
- Centro de Memória, Instituto de Pesquisas Biomédicas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6690, Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil
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Da Silva WC, Bonini JS, Bevilaqua LRM, Medina JH, Izquierdo I, Cammarota M. Inhibition of mRNA synthesis in the hippocampus impairs consolidation and reconsolidation of spatial memory. Hippocampus 2007; 18:29-39. [PMID: 17853412 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Using two different mRNA synthesis inhibitors, we show that blockade of hippocampal gene expression during restricted posttraining or postretrieval time windows hinders retention of long-term spatial memory for the Morris water maze task, without affecting short-term memory, nonspatial learning, or the functionality of the hippocampus. Our results indicate that spatial memory consolidation induces the activation of the hippocampal transcriptional machinery and suggest the existence of a gene expression-dependent reconsolidation process that operates in the dorsal hippocampus at the moment of retrieval to stabilize the reactivated mnemonic trace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weber C Da Silva
- Centro de Memória, Instituto de Pesquisas Biomédicas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga 6690, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
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Frisch C, Kudin AP, Elger CE, Kunz WS, Helmstaedter C. Amelioration of water maze performance deficits by topiramate applied during pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus is negatively dose-dependent. Epilepsy Res 2006; 73:173-80. [PMID: 17084066 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2006.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2006] [Revised: 10/02/2006] [Accepted: 10/02/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy is characterized by a progressive loss of memory capacities, due to sclerosis and functional impairment of mesiotemporal brain areas. We have shown recently that topiramate (TPM) dose-dependently protects hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons during initial status epilepticus in the rat pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy by inhibition of mitochondrial transition pore opening. In the present study, in order to evaluate possible positive effects of the treatment on learning and memory, we investigated water maze performance of rats receiving different dosages of TPM (20 and 100 mg/kg) after 40 min and 4 mg/kg diazepam after 160 min of pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in relation to performance of animals receiving 4 mg/kg diazepam after 40 min of SE, and to performance of sham-treated control animals. Unexpectedly, 20 but not 100 mg/kg TPM significantly extenuated short-term memory deficits. While neuroprotective effects of TPM were observed in hippocampal CA subfields of animals treated with 100 mg/kg TPM, cell loss in rats treated with 20 mg/kg TPM was indistinguishable from animals receiving diazepam only. The present results indicate a negative dose-dependency of memory-saving effects of TPM applied during status epilepticus apparently dissociated from hippocampal neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Frisch
- Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
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Ferguson SA, Berry KJ. Oral Accutane (13-cis-retinoic acid) has no effects on spatial learning and memory in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2006; 29:219-27. [PMID: 17161936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2006.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2006] [Revised: 10/13/2006] [Accepted: 10/24/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Descriptions of psychiatric effects with Accutane (13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA)) use prompted a series of studies in a rodent model to ascertain its cognitive effects. Previously, we reported no effects on measures of anhedonia and depression in rats treated with 7.5, 22.5, or 30 mg/kg 13-cis-RA [S.A. Ferguson, F.J. Cisneros, B. Gough, J.P. Hanig, K.J. Berry, Chronic oral treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin) or all-trans-retinoic acid does not alter depression-like behaviors in rats, Toxicol. Sci. 87 (2005) 451-459 [16]; S.A. Ferguson, F.J., Cisneros, J.P. Hanig, K.J. Berry, Chronic oral treatment with Accutane (13-cis-retinoic acid) does not increase measures of anhedonia or depression in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats, (in preparation) [19]]. Here, we assessed spatial learning and memory in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats gavaged daily beginning on postnatal day (PND) 59 with vehicle control (soybean oil), 7.5 or 30 mg/kg of 13-cis-RA. We have reported that 7.5 mg/kg produces serum levels of 13-cis-RA comparable to those of humans prescribed Accutane [S.A. Ferguson, P.H. Siitonen, F.J. Cisneros, B. Gough, J.F. Young, Steady state pharmacokinetics of oral treatment with 13-cis-retinoic acid or all- trans-retinoic acid in male and female adult rats, Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 98 (2006) 582-587 [18]]. Three behavioral tasks assessed spatial learning and memory after chronic 13-cis-RA treatment: the escape-reinforced Morris water maze (PNDs 111-115), the food-reinforced 8-arm radial maze (PNDs 132-136), and the water-reinforced NCTR complex maze (PNDs 153-157). Behaviors were measured after a minimum of 52 and maximum of 94 days of 13-cis-RA treatment. 13-cis-RA treatment had no effects on performance of the 8-arm radial maze or the NCTR complex maze. Treatment effects on Morris water maze performance were negligible and neither dose-related nor consistent. Performances of the control group were quite similar to those previously described in this laboratory. These results indicate that chronic 13-cis-RA treatment in male and female rats has few effects on measures of spatial learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry A Ferguson
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA, 390 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA.
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Wass C, Archer T, Pålsson E, Fejgin K, Klamer D, Engel JA, Svensson L. Effects of phencyclidine on spatial learning and memory: Nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms. Behav Brain Res 2006; 171:147-53. [PMID: 16677724 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2005] [Revised: 03/20/2006] [Accepted: 03/27/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive deficits of schizophrenia constitute a disabling part of the disease predicting treatment success as well as functional outcome. Phencyclidine (PCP), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist was used to model schizophrenic cognitive dysfunctions of learning and memory using the Morris water maze paradigm for reference memory. In experiment 1 male Sprauge-Dawley rats were acutely administered PCP (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg s.c.) before the first swim session on each of the four acquisition days. Probe test for reference memory was performed 2 days after the last acquisition day; the first probe without drug treatment to assess reference memory and a second probe with prior drug treatment to control for state dependency effects of PCP. In experiment 2 the effects of pre-treatment (10 min before PCP) with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME (10 mg/kg s.c.), on the PCP (2 mg/kg)-induced spatial memory deficit was evaluated in the Morris water maze paradigm for reference memory. The results showed that PCP in a dose of 2 mg/kg disrupts spatial learning as estimated by prolonged search time to find platform during acquisition as well as the reference memory test as measured by less time spent in target quadrant during probe trial. No state dependency effects of PCP were found. Pre-treatment with L-NAME completely reversed the PCP-induced disruption of acquisition learning. The reference memory disruption was, however, not completely restored as measured by probe trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Wass
- Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden
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Xiong Z, Liu C, Wang F, Li C, Wang W, Wang J, Chen J. Protective Effects of Breviscapine on Ischemic Vascular Dementia in Rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2006; 29:1880-5. [PMID: 16946502 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.29.1880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Breviscapine, a traditional Chinese medicine, is extensively used in clinic to treat cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular injury. In this study, we demonstrated the effects of breviscapine on vascular dementia (VD) rats, which were mimicked by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries. Breviscapine (2 mg/kg for 14 d) improved the performance of learning and memory of VD rats in Morris water maze, decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and free radicals, and attenuated the pathological alterations, such as nuclear shrink, cellular edema and irregular arrangement of pyramidal layer in the hippocampal CA(1) area. In vitro experiment, breviscapine (50 microg/l) protected cortical neuron from injury and decreased intracellular calcium overloading induced by H2O2 (10 mM). The results suggest that breviscapine has therapeutic effect on cerebral ischemia and vascular dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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