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Pilipenko V, Narbute K, Amara I, Trovato A, Scuto M, Pupure J, Jansone B, Poikans J, Bisenieks E, Klusa V, Calabrese V. GABA-containing compound gammapyrone protects against brain impairments in Alzheimer's disease model male rats and prevents mitochondrial dysfunction in cell culture. J Neurosci Res 2019; 97:708-726. [PMID: 30742328 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, decreased glucose/energy metabolism, and disrupted neurotransmission are changes that occur early in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD), manifesting as mild cognitive impairment. Recently, the imbalanced function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system was identified as a critical factor in AD progression. Thus, maintaining balance among neurotransmitter systems, particularly the GABA system, can be considered a beneficial strategy to slow AD progression. The present study investigated the effects of the compound gammapyrone, a molecule containing three GABA moieties: "free" moiety attached to the position 4 of the 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) ring, and two "crypto" moieties as part of the DHP scaffold. The "free" and "crypto" GABA moieties are linked by a peptide bond (-CONH-), resulting in a peptide-mimicking structure. In a nontransgenic male rat AD model generated by intracerebroventricular (icv) streptozocin (STZ) administration, gammapyrone (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg ip) mitigated the impairment of spatial learning and memory, prevented astroglial and microglial neuroinflammation, and normalized acetylcholine breakdown and GABA biosynthesis. In PC12 cells, gammapyrone protected against oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis caused by the mitochondrial toxin di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). Gammapyrone did not bind to GABA-A and GABA-B receptors in vitro; therefore, we cannot attribute its neuroprotective action to a specific interaction with GABA receptors. Nevertheless, we suggest that the peptide-like regulatory mechanisms of gammapyrone or its allosteric modulatory properties are essential for the observed effects. Since, the icv STZ model resembles the early stages of AD, gammapyrone, and/or its congeners could be useful in the design of anti-dementia drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimirs Pilipenko
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Karina Narbute
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ines Amara
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Angela Trovato
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Scuto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Jolanta Pupure
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Baiba Jansone
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Janis Poikans
- Laboratory of Membrane Active Compounds, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Egils Bisenieks
- Laboratory of Membrane Active Compounds, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
| | - Vija Klusa
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Vittorio Calabrese
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
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Wu CYC, Lerner FM, Couto E Silva A, Possoit HE, Hsieh TH, Neumann JT, Minagar A, Lin HW, Lee RHC. Utilizing the Modified T-Maze to Assess Functional Memory Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest. J Vis Exp 2018:56694. [PMID: 29364254 PMCID: PMC5908446 DOI: 10.3791/56694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evaluating mild to moderate cognitive impairment in a global cerebral ischemia (i.e. cardiac arrest) model can be difficult due to poor locomotion after surgery. For example, rats who undergo surgical procedures and are subjected to the Morris water maze may not be able to swim, thus voiding the experiment. New Method: We established a modified behavioral spontaneous alternation T-maze test. The major advantage of the modified T-maze protocol is its relatively simple design that is powerful enough to assess functional learning/memory after ischemia. Additionally, the data analysis is simple and straightforward. We used the T-maze to determine the rats' learning/memory deficits both in the presence or absence of mild to moderate (6 min) asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA). Rats have a natural tendency for exploration and will explore the alternate arms in the T-maze, whereas hippocampal-lesioned rats tend to adopt a side-preference resulting in decreased spontaneous alternation ratios, revealing the hippocampal-related functional learning/memory in the presence or absence of ACA. RESULTS ACA groups have higher side-preference ratios and lower alternations as compared to control. Comparison with Existing Method(s): The Morris water and Barnes maze are more prominent for assessing learning/memory function. However, the Morris water maze is more stressful than other mazes. The Barnes maze is widely used to measure reference (long-term) memory, while ACA-induced neurocognitive deficits are more closely related to working (short-term) memory. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a simple, yet effective strategy to delineate working (short-term) memory via the T-maze in our global cerebral ischemia model (ACA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Y C Wu
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Center for Brain Health, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
| | - Francesca M Lerner
- Department of Neurology, Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratories, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
| | - Alexandre Couto E Silva
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
| | - Harlee E Possoit
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Center for Brain Health, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
| | - Tsung-Han Hsieh
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Center for Brain Health, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
| | - Jake T Neumann
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
| | - Alireza Minagar
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
| | - Hung Wen Lin
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Center for Brain Health, Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Science Center
| | - Reggie H C Lee
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center; Center for Brain Health, Louisiana State University Health Science Center;
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