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Richardson B, Goedert T, Quraishe S, Deinhardt K, Mudher A. How do neurons age? A focused review on the aging of the microtubular cytoskeleton. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1899-1907. [PMID: 38227514 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. We now understand that a breakdown in the neuronal cytoskeleton, mainly underpinned by protein modifications leading to the destabilization of microtubules, is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. This is accompanied by morphological defects across the somatodendritic compartment, axon, and synapse. However, knowledge of what occurs to the microtubule cytoskeleton and morphology of the neuron during physiological aging is comparatively poor. Several recent studies have suggested that there is an age-related increase in the phosphorylation of the key microtubule stabilizing protein tau, a modification, which is known to destabilize the cytoskeleton in Alzheimer's disease. This indicates that the cytoskeleton and potentially other neuronal structures reliant on the cytoskeleton become functionally compromised during normal physiological aging. The current literature shows age-related reductions in synaptic spine density and shifts in synaptic spine conformation which might explain age-related synaptic functional deficits. However, knowledge of what occurs to the microtubular and actin cytoskeleton, with increasing age is extremely limited. When considering the somatodendritic compartment, a regression in dendrites and loss of dendritic length and volume is reported whilst a reduction in soma volume/size is often seen. However, research into cytoskeletal change is limited to a handful of studies demonstrating reductions in and mislocalizations of microtubule-associated proteins with just one study directly exploring the integrity of the microtubules. In the axon, an increase in axonal diameter and age-related appearance of swellings is reported but like the dendrites, just one study investigates the microtubules directly with others reporting loss or mislocalization of microtubule-associated proteins. Though these are the general trends reported, there are clear disparities between model organisms and brain regions that are worthy of further investigation. Additionally, longitudinal studies of neuronal/cytoskeletal aging should also investigate whether these age-related changes contribute not just to vulnerability to disease but also to the decline in nervous system function and behavioral output that all organisms experience. This will highlight the utility, if any, of cytoskeletal fortification for the promotion of healthy neuronal aging and potential protection against age-related neurodegenerative disease. This review seeks to summarize what is currently known about the physiological aging of the neuron and microtubular cytoskeleton in the hope of uncovering mechanisms underpinning age-related risk to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Thomas Goedert
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shmma Quraishe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Katrin Deinhardt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Amritpal Mudher
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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2
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Tendilla-Beltrán H, Garcés-Ramírez L, Martínez-Vásquez E, Nakakawa A, Gómez-Villalobos MDJ, Flores G. Differential Effects of Neonatal Ventral Hippocampus Lesion on Behavior and Corticolimbic Plasticity in Wistar-Kyoto and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. Neurochem Res 2024; 49:959-979. [PMID: 38157113 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-04074-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the corticolimbic system, particularly at the dendritic spine level, is a recognized core mechanism in neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia. Neonatal ventral hippocampus lesion (NVHL) in Sprague-Dawley rats induces both a schizophrenia-related behavioral phenotype and dendritic spine pathology (reduced total number and mature spines) in corticolimbic areas, which is mitigated by antipsychotics. However, there is limited information on the impact of rat strain on NVHL outcomes and antipsychotic effects. We compared the behavioral performance in the open field, novel object recognition (NORT), and social interaction tests, as well as structural neuroplasticity with the Golgi-Cox stain in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) male rats with and without NVHL. Additionally, we explored the effect of the atypical antipsychotic risperidone (RISP). WKY rats with NVHL displayed motor hyperactivity without impairments in memory and social behavior, accompanied by dendritic spine pathology in the neurons of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) layer 3 and basolateral amygdala. RISP treatment reduced motor activity and had subtle and selective effects on the neuroplasticity alterations. In SH rats, NVHL increased the time spent in the border area during the open field test, impaired the short-term performance in NORT, and reduced social interaction time, deficits that were corrected after RISP administration. The NVHL caused dendritic spine pathology in the PFC layers 3 and 5 of SH rats, which RISP treatment ameliorated. Our results support the utility of the NVHL model for exploring neuroplasticity mechanisms in schizophrenia and understanding pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiram Tendilla-Beltrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), 14 Sur 6301, 72570, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Linda Garcés-Ramírez
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (ENCB), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Edwin Martínez-Vásquez
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), 14 Sur 6301, 72570, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Andrea Nakakawa
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), 14 Sur 6301, 72570, Puebla, Mexico
| | | | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), 14 Sur 6301, 72570, Puebla, Mexico.
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Spanaki C, Sidiropoulou K, Petraki Z, Diskos K, Konstantoudaki X, Volitaki E, Mylonaki K, Savvaki M, Plaitakis A. Glutamate-specific gene linked to human brain evolution enhances synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes. iScience 2024; 27:108821. [PMID: 38333701 PMCID: PMC10850756 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The human brain is characterized by the upregulation of synaptic, mainly glutamatergic, transmission, but its evolutionary origin(s) remain elusive. Here we approached this fundamental question by studying mice transgenic (Tg) for GLUD2, a human gene involved in glutamate metabolism that emerged in the hominoid and evolved concomitantly with brain expansion. We demonstrate that Tg mice express the human enzyme in hippocampal astrocytes and CA1-CA3 pyramidal neurons. LTP, evoked by theta-burst stimulation, is markedly enhanced in the CA3-CA1 synapses of Tg mice, with patch-clamp recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons revealing increased sNMDA currents. LTP enhancement is blocked by D-lactate, implying that GLUD2 potentiates L-lactate-mediated astrocyte-neuron interaction. Dendritic spine density and synaptogenesis are increased in the hippocampus of Tg mice, which exhibit enhanced responses to sensory stimuli and improved performance on complex memory tasks. Hence, GLUD2 likely contributed to human brain evolution by enhancing synaptic plasticity and metabolic processes central to cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- PaGNI University Hospital of Irakleio, Neurology Department, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Iraklion, Greece
| | - Zoe Petraki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Diskos
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), Iraklion, Greece
| | | | - Emmanouela Volitaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantina Mylonaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Savvaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, University of Crete, Voutes, Iraklion, Crete, Greece
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Li C, Ma Y, Chai X, Feng X, Feng W, Zhao Y, Cui C, Wang J, Zhao S, Zhu X. Ketogenic diet attenuates cognitive dysfunctions induced by hypoglycemia via inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent pathways. Food Funct 2024; 15:1294-1309. [PMID: 38197246 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo04007k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Hypoglycemia can potentially cause severe damage to the central nervous system. The ketogenic diet (KD), characterized by high-fat and extremely low-carbohydrate content, can modulate homeostasis and nutrient metabolism, thereby influencing body health. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of KD on hypoglycemia-induced brain injury have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to explore the modulating effects of KD on cognitive functions and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In this study, one-month-old mice were fed with KD for 2 weeks, and the changes in the gut microbiota were detected using the 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing method. The hypoglycemic model of mice was established using insulin, and the potential protective effect of KD on hypoglycemia-induced brain injury in mice was evaluated through immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, and Golgi staining. Our results showed that the intestinal flora of Dorea increased and Rikenella decreased in KD-fed mice. KD can not only alleviate anxiety-like behavior induced by hypoglycemia, but also increase the proportion of mushroom dendritic spines in the hippocampus by modulating changes in the gut microbiota. KD regulated synaptic plasticity by increasing the levels of SPN, PSD95, and SYP, which relieve cognitive impairment caused by hypoglycemia. Moreover, KD can promote the proliferation and survival of adult neural stem cells in the hippocampus, while reducing apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the IRE1-XBP1 and ATF6 endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways in mice with hypoglycemia. This study provides new evidence for demonstrating that KD may alleviate cognitive dysfunctions caused by hypoglycemia by modulating the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cixia Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Yue Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Xuejun Chai
- College of Basic Medicine, Xi'An Medical University, Xi'An, Shaanxi 710021, PR China
| | - Xiao Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Wenyu Feng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Yongkang Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Chaochu Cui
- Henan Key Laboratory of Medical Tissue Regeneration, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan 453003, PR China
| | - Jianguo Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Shanting Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyan Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, PR China.
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Flores-Gómez GD, Apam-Castillejos DJ, Juárez-Díaz I, Fuentes-Medel E, Díaz A, Tendilla-Beltrán H, Flores G. Aripiprazole attenuates the medial prefrontal cortex morphological and biochemical alterations in rats with neonatal ventral hippocampus lesion. J Chem Neuroanat 2023; 132:102316. [PMID: 37481172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a loss of dendritic spines in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Multiple subclinical and clinical studies have evidenced the ability of antipsychotics to improve neuroplasticity. In this study, it was evaluated the effect of the atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole (ARI) on the behavioral and mPFC neuronal disturbances of rats with neonatal ventral hippocampus lesion (nVHL), which is a heuristic developmental model relevant to the study of schizophrenia. ARI attenuated open field hyperlocomotion in the rats with nVHL. Also, ARI ameliorated structural neuroplasticity disturbances of the mPFC layer 3 pyramidal cells, but not in the layer 5 neurons. These effects can be associated with the ARI capability of increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Moreover, in the animals with nVHL, ARI attenuated the immunoreactivity for some oxidative stress-related molecules such as the nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2), 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), as well as the reactive astrogliosis in the mPFC. These results contribute to current knowledge about the neurotrophic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of antipsychotics which may be contributing to their clinical effects and envision promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ismael Juárez-Díaz
- Facultad de Estomatología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico
| | - Estefania Fuentes-Medel
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (FCQ), Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico
| | - Alfonso Díaz
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas (FCQ), Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico
| | - Hiram Tendilla-Beltrán
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico
| | - Gonzalo Flores
- Instituto de Fisiología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla, Mexico.
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Díaz A, Vázquez-Roque R, Carreto-Meneses K, Moroni-González D, Moreno-Rodríguez JA, Treviño S. Polyoxidovanadates as a pharmacological option against brain aging. J Chem Neuroanat 2023; 129:102256. [PMID: 36921908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
The world population is aging rapidly, and chronic diseases associated are cardiometabolic syndrome, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are typical hallmarks in them. Polyoxidovanadates (POVs) have shown interesting pharmacological actions against chronic diseases. This work aimed to evaluate the POV effect on hippocampal neuroinflammation, redox balance, and recognition memory in the aging of rats. Rats 18 months old were administered a daily dose of sodium metavanadate (MV), decavanadate (DV), Metformin (Metf), or MetfDeca for two months. Results showed that short-term and long-term recognition memory improved by 28 % and 16 % (DV), 19 % and 20 % (Metf), and 21 % and 27 % (MetfDeca). In hippocampi, reactive oxygen species, IL-1β, and TNF-α, after DV, Metf, and MetfDeca decreased at similar concentrations to young adult control, while lipid peroxidation substantially ameliorated. Additionally, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity increased by 41 % and 42 % (DV), 39 % and 41 % (Metf), and 75 % and 73 % (MetfDeca). POV treatments reduced Nrf2 and GFAP immunoreactivity in CA1 (70-87.5 %), CA3 (60-80 %), and DG (57-89 %). Metformin treatment showed a minor effect, while MV treatment did not improve any parameters. Although DV, Metf, and MetfDeca treatments showed similar results, POVs doses were 16-fold fewer than Metformin. In conclusion, DV and MetfDeca could be pharmacological options to reduce age-related neuronal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Díaz
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Chemistry Science, University Autonomous of Puebla, 22 South. FC91, University City, Puebla C.P. 72560, Mexico
| | - Rubén Vázquez-Roque
- Neuropsychiatry laboratory, Physiology Institute, University Autonomous of Puebla, 14 South. University City, Puebla C.P. 72560, Mexico
| | - Karen Carreto-Meneses
- Laboratory of Chemical-Clinical Investigations, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry Science, University Autonomous of Puebla, 14 South. FCQ1, University City, Puebla C.P. 72560, Mexico
| | - Diana Moroni-González
- Laboratory of Chemical-Clinical Investigations, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry Science, University Autonomous of Puebla, 14 South. FCQ1, University City, Puebla C.P. 72560, Mexico
| | - José Albino Moreno-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Chemical-Clinical Investigations, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry Science, University Autonomous of Puebla, 14 South. FCQ1, University City, Puebla C.P. 72560, Mexico
| | - Samuel Treviño
- Laboratory of Chemical-Clinical Investigations, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry Science, University Autonomous of Puebla, 14 South. FCQ1, University City, Puebla C.P. 72560, Mexico.
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Zhang X, Ni L, Hu S, Yue B, Chen X, Yuan D, Wang T, Zhou Z. Polygonatum sibiricum ameliorated cognitive impairment of naturally aging rats through BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway. J Food Biochem 2022; 46:e14510. [PMID: 36373352 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.14510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is high in the elderly population and seriously affects the quality of life. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the key neurotrophic proteins, and activation of BDNF-TrkB is considered an effective strategy to improve cognitive dysfunction during aging. In this study, administration of polygonatum sibiricum (PS) for 5 months effectively ameliorates the cognitive function, improving the Nissl body state in cortex and hippocampus in aging rats. In addition, PS can improve the synaptic structure and increase the number of synapses. Furthermore, PS reverses the reduction of synaptic plasticity-related proteins postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and synaptophysin during aging and up-regulates the expression of BDNF-TrkB. In conclusion, PS improves cognitive dysfunction and enhances synaptic plasticity in naturally aged rats by regulating the BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway. PS has the potential to be developed as a novel and promising functional health food for the elderly. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Polygonatum sibiricum (PS) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which has been included in the homologous plant of medicine and food. PS has been widely used to treat lung diseases, diabetes and antiaging in clinical. Studies have confirmed that PS can accelerate the repair and regeneration of damaged neurons, reverse the changes in synaptic structure, and improve the ability of learning and memory. Our study confirmed that PS significantly improved the cognitive function in aging rats. PS has great potential to be developed as a functional food for improving neurological function and anti-aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xulan Zhang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichang, P. R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P. R. China
| | - Lu Ni
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichang, P. R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P. R. China
| | - Shanshan Hu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichang, P. R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Yue
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichang, P. R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Enshi Source Technology Development Co., LTD, Enshi, P. R. China
| | - Ding Yuan
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichang, P. R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P. R. China
| | - Ting Wang
- Institute of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China.,Academy of Nutrition and Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyong Zhou
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine Approved by State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichang, P. R. China.,Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang, P. R. China
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Zhu D, Zhang M, He B, Wan Y, Wang L, Gao F. The role of sex and ovarian hormones in hippocampal damage and cognitive deficits induced by chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:953417. [PMID: 36003965 PMCID: PMC9393425 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.953417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of sex and ovarian hormones in hippocampal damage and cognitive deficits and behavioral dysfunction in rats induced by chronic exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Methods Six-week-old male and female SD rats were housed for 3 months either in a real altitude (4,250 m) environment as the model of chronic hypobaric-hypoxia (CHH) or in a plain as controls. The animal behavioral and hippocampal neurons at subcellular, molecular, and ultrastructural levels were characterized after CHH exposure. Results After 3 months of CHH exposure, (1) male CHH rats’ serum testosterone level was lower than male controls’ whereas female CHH rats’ serum estradiol level was higher than female controls’; (2) Morris water maze test finds that male rats showed more learning and spatial memory deficits than female rats; (3) male rats showed more severe hippocampal damage, hippocampal inflammation, oxidative stress and decreased hippocampal integrity (neurogenesis and dendritic spine density) than female rats; (4) Western blot analysis shows that, compared with the male control group, in male CHH group’s hippocampus, expression of nNOS, HO-1, and Bax protein increased whereas that of Bcl-2 protein decreased; (5) Expression of PON2 protein in male rats (CHH and controls) was lower than female rats (CHH and controls). In addition, CHH exposure decreased the expression of PON2 protein in both male and female rats; (6) qPCR analysis reveals that CHH exposure reduced the gene expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2A and NR2B subunits in male rats’ hippocampus. In addition, compared with the sham CHH group, the expression level of PON2 protein decreased in the OVX-CHH group’s hippocampus whereas oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and degeneration of hippocampal neurons increased in the OVX-CHH group’s hippocampus. Conclusion After CHH exposure, male rats were significantly more likely than female rats to develop hippocampal damage, hippocampal neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline and deficits, suggesting that sex and ovarian hormones were significantly involved in regulating the rats’ susceptibility to CHH exposure-induced hippocampal damage.
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Molz P, de Freitas BS, Uberti VH, da Costa KM, Kist LW, Bogo MR, Schröder N. Effects of lipoic acid supplementation on age- and iron-induced memory impairment, mitochondrial DNA damage and antioxidant responses. Eur J Nutr 2021; 60:3679-3690. [PMID: 33738535 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-021-02541-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the effects of lipoic acid (LA) supplementation during adulthood combined with supplementation later in life or LA administration only at old age on age-induced cognitive dysfunction, mitochondrial DNA deletions, caspase 3 and antioxidant response enzymes expression in iron-treated rats. METHODS Male rats were submitted to iron treatment (30 mg/kg body wt of Carbonyl iron) from 12 to 14th post-natal days. Iron-treated rats received LA supplementation (50 mg/kg, daily) in adulthood and old age or at old age only for 21 days. Memory, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) complex I deletions, caspase 3 mRNA expression and antioxidant response enzymes mRNA expression were analyzed in the hippocampus. RESULTS LA administration in adulthood combined with treatment later in life was able to reverse age-induced effects on object recognition and inhibitory avoidance memory, as well as on mtDNA deletions, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) expression, and antioxidant enzymes disruption induced by iron in aged rats. LA treatment only at old age reversed iron-induced effects to a lesser extent when compared to the combined treatment. CONCLUSION The present findings support the view that LA supplementation may be considered as an adjuvant against mitochondrial damage and cognitive decline related to aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Molz
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Betânia Souza de Freitas
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vanise Hallas Uberti
- Neurobiology and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Biosciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kesiane Mayra da Costa
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luiza Wilges Kist
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maurício Reis Bogo
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biology, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,National Institute of Science and Technology for Brain Diseases, Excitotoxicity and Neuroprotection (INCT-EN), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nadja Schröder
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil. .,Department of Physiology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Sarmento Leite, 500, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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