myelin-basic-protein and Memory-Disorders

Ethnobotanical enquiries have revealed that Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC (Meliaceae) has anxiolytic properties and is used to alleviate vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorative effects of the aqueous extract of K. anthotheca in vanadium induced anxiety, memory loss and pathologies in the brain and ovary of mice.. Forty neonatal female mice were used in this study. All animals received vanadium (3 mg/kg BW/72 h, by lactation and i.p.) for 20 weeks except the Control group. At 16 weeks old, mice were divided into 5 groups (n = 8): Control group received distilled water; V-group received vanadium (V) (3 mg/kg BW every 72 h i.p.), V + Vit E group received vitamin E (500 mg/kg BW/72 h) and vanadium (V) (3 mg/kg BW/72 h i.p, simultaneously). V + KA 125 and V + KA 250 groups received K. anthotheca extract at the doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg BW/day respectively and vanadium (V) (3 mg/kg BW/72 h i.p, simultaneously).The treatment was done per os at 10 mL/kg of volume of administration for 4 weeks. To evalute anxiolytic effects and spatial working memory improved by the extract in mice, the elevated open space test and Y maze test were used respectively. After sacrifice, brains were harvested and pathologies were assessed using cresyl violet stainning and immunohistochemistry (GFAP, Iba-1 and MBP), while pathologies in the ovaries were assessed using immunohistochemistry (Collagen type 1) and H&E stainning.. Results in the three sessions of elevated open space test showed that vanadium exposure resulted in a significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.01) increase of the latency of first entry in the slopes and a significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.001) decrease of the time spent and number of entries in the slopes however, Khaya anthotheca treatment induced a significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.01) decrease of the latency of first entry in the slopes and a significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.01) increase of the time spent and number of entries in the slopes. In the Y maze test, vanadium exposure resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in the percentage of correct alternation, K. anthotheca extract at the dose of 250 mg/kg BW however induced a significant (p < 0.05) increase of this percentage of correct spontaneous alternation. In the brain, degeneration induced by vanadium exposure was marked by an increase of GFAP-immunoreactive cells, microgliosis and demyelination. The treatment with Khaya anthotheca extract at the dose of 250 mg/kg BW resulted in the preservation of cellular integrity in the same anatomical regions with reduced astroglial and microglial activation and prevented demyelination. In addition, vanadium exposure decreased Collagen type 1 expression in the ovaries and induced a deterioration of tertiary follicle. Khaya anthotheca treatment at the dose of 250 mg/kg BW induced an increase of expression of Collagen type 1 and alleviated deterioration of the microarchitecture of tertiary follicle induced by vanadium.. These effects induced by K. anthotheca extract could justify the traditional use of this plant in Cameroonian traditional medicine to manage anxiety. Therefore, to minimise vanadium induced toxicity, the plant should be given more emphasis as a candidate in developing a modern phytodrug.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Anxiety; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Cameroon; Collagen Type I; Female; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Maze Learning; Medicine, Traditional; Meliaceae; Memory Disorders; Mice; Microfilament Proteins; Myelin Basic Protein; Ovary; Plant Extracts; Vanadium; Water

Cognitive decline remains an unaddressed problem for the elderly. We show that myelination is highly active in young mice and greatly inhibited in aged mice, coinciding with spatial memory deficits. Inhibiting myelination by deletion of Olig2 in oligodendrocyte precursor cells impairs spatial memory in young mice, while enhancing myelination by deleting the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 1 in oligodendrocyte precursor cells, or promoting oligodendroglial differentiation and myelination via clemastine treatment, rescues spatial memory decline during aging.

Topics: Aging; Animals; Demyelinating Diseases; Memory Disorders; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Myelin Basic Protein; Myelin Sheath; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells; Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; Oligodendroglia

Ischemic stroke often causes motor and cognitive deficits. Deregulated glia gap junction communication, which is reflected by increased protein levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and connexin 43 (Cx43), has been observed in ischemic hippocampus and has been associated with cognitive impairment in animal stroke models. Here, we tested the hypothesis that reactive astrocytes-mediated loss of synaptophysin (SYP) and CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) contribute to dysfunction in glia gap junction communication and memory impairment after ischemic stroke. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 90-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with 7-day reperfusion. Fluorocitrate (1 nmol), the reversible inhibitor of the astrocytic tricarboxylic acid cycle, was injected into the right lateral ventricle of MCAO rats once every 2 days starting immediately before reperfusion. The Morris water maze was used to assess memory in conjunction with western blotting and immunostaining to detect protein expression and distribution in the hippocampus. Our results showed that ischemic stroke caused significant memory impairment accompanied by increased protein levels of GFAP and Cx43 in hippocampal tissue. In addition, the levels of several key memory-related important proteins including SYP, CRTC1, myelin basic protein and high-mobility group-box-1 were significantly reduced in the hippocampal tissue. Of note, inhibition of reactive astrocytes with fluorocitrate was shown to significantly reverse the above noted changes induced by ischemic stroke. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that inhibiting reactive astrocytes with fluorocitrate immediately before reperfusion may protect against ischemic stroke-induced memory impairment through the upregulation of CRTC1 and SYP.

Topics: Animals; Astrocytes; Brain Ischemia; Citrates; Connexin 43; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Hippocampus; HMGB1 Protein; Learning; Male; Memory Disorders; Motor Activity; Myelin Basic Protein; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Stroke; Synaptophysin; Transcription Factors; Up-Regulation

Exposures to toxic levels of vanadium and soluble vanadium compounds cause behavioral impairments and neurodegeneration via free radical production. Consequently, natural antioxidant sources have been explored for effective and cheap remedy following toxicity. Grewia carpinifolia has been shown to improve behavioral impairments in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity, however, the active compounds implicated remains unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate ameliorative effects of bioactive compounds from G. carpinifolia on memory and behavioral impairments in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity.. Sixty BALB/c mice were equally divided into five groups (A-E). A (control); administered distilled water, B (standard); administered α-tocopherol (500 mg/kg) every 72 hr orally with daily dose of sodium metavanadate (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, test groups C, and D; received single oral dose of 100 μg β-spinasterol or stigmasterol (bioactive compounds from G. carpinifolia), respectively, along with sodium metavanadate and the model group E, received sodium metavanadate only for seven consecutive days. Memory, locomotion and muscular strength were accessed using Morris water maze, Open field and hanging wire tests. In vivo antioxidant and neuroprotective activities were evaluated by measuring catalase, superoxide dismutase, MDA, H. In Morris water maze, stigmasterol significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased escape latency and increased swimming time in target quadrant (28.01 ± 0.02; 98.24 ± 17.38 s), respectively, better than α-tocopherol (52.43 ± 13.25; 80.32 ± 15.21) and β-spinasterol (42.09 ± 14.27; 70.91 ± 19.24) in sodium metavanadate-induced memory loss (112.31 ± 9.35; 42.35 ± 11.05). β-Spinasterol and stigmasterol significantly increased exploration and latency in open field and hanging wire tests respectively. Stigmasterol also increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreased oxidative stress markers and lipid peroxidation in mice hippocampal homogenates, and increased MBP expression.. The findings of this study indicate a potential for stigmasterol, a bioactive compound from G. carpinifolia in improving cognitive decline, motor coordination, and ameliorating oxidative stress in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Behavior, Animal; Cognitive Dysfunction; Down-Regulation; Hippocampus; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Memory Disorders; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Myelin Basic Protein; Neurotoxicity Syndromes; Oxidative Stress; Stigmasterol; Vanadates

Mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor has shown promotive effect on neural cells in rodents, including neural proliferation, differentiation, survival, and synaptic formation. Conversely, the precursor of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) has been emerging as a differing protein against its mature form, for its critical role in aging process and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we investigated the role of proBDNF in neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of aged mice and examined the changes in mice learning and memory functions. The results showed that the newborn cells in the hippocampus revealed a significant decline in proBDNF-treated group compared with bovine serum albumin group, but an elevated level in anti-proBDNF group. During the maturation period, no significant change was observed in the proportions of phenotype of the newborn cells among the three groups. In water maze, proBDNF-treated mice had poorer scores in place navigation test and probe test, compared with those from any other group. Thus, we conclude that proBDNF attenuates neurogenesis in the hippocampus and induces the deficits in learning and memory functions of aged mice.

Topics: Aging; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Bromodeoxyuridine; Female; Hippocampus; Learning Disabilities; Maze Learning; Memory Disorders; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Myelin Basic Protein; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurogenesis; Protein Precursors; Swimming; Time Factors

Chronic stress significantly affects neuron morphometry and function in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region controlling cognition and emotion. However, whether and how chronic stress regulates the maturation of NG2-expressing oligodendrocyte precursor cell (NG2(+) cell) and the importance of these changes remained unknown. Here, we report that exposing adult mice to chronic stress results in NG2(+) cell atrophy and myelination arrested in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and impaired mPFC-dependent functions. These alterations, are phenocopied by overexpression of death receptor 6 (DR6) in NG2(+) cell. Conversely, selectively silencing of DR6 in the NG2(+) cell can partly rescue NG2(+) cell atrophy and cognitive deficiency caused by chronic stress. We further demonstrate that myelination appears necessary for mPFC-dependent cognitive processes, as lysolecithin (LPC)-induced demyelination specifically in the mPFC is sufficient to cause these behavioral and cognitive impairments. Our results indicate that chronic stress impairs cognitive functions, at least in part, through modulation of NG2(+) cell maturation and myelination, and suggest that myelination is require for normal cognitive functions.

Topics: Animals; Antigens; Autophagy-Related Proteins; Bromodeoxyuridine; Cognition Disorders; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Regulation; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Memory Disorders; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Models, Molecular; Myelin Basic Protein; Neurofilament Proteins; Neurons; Prefrontal Cortex; Proteoglycans; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; RNA, Small Interfering; Stress, Psychological; Time Factors

The positive correlation between therapeutic exercise and memory recovery in cases of ischemia has been extensively studied; however, long-term exercise begun after ischemic neuronal death as a chronic neurorestorative strategy has not yet been thoroughly examined.. The purpose of this study is to investigate possible mechanisms by which exercise ameliorates ischemia-induced memory impairment in the aged gerbil hippocampus after transient cerebral ischemia.. Treadmill exercise was begun 5 days after ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) and lasted for 1 or 4 weeks. The animals were sacrificed 31 days after the induction of ischemia. Changes in short-term memory, as well as the hippocampal expression of markers of cell proliferation, neuroblast differentiation, neurogenesis, myelin and microvessel repair, and growth factors were examined by immunohistochemistry and/or western blots.. Four weeks of exercise facilitated memory recovery despite neuronal damage in the stratum pyramidale (SP) of the hippocampal CA1 region and in the polymorphic layer (PoL) of the dentate gyrus (DG) after I-R. Long-term exercise enhanced cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in a time-dependent manner, and newly generated mature cells were found in the granule cell layer of the DG, but not in the SP of the CA1 region or in the PoL of the DG. In addition, long-term exercise ameliorated ischemia-induced damage of myelin and microvessels, which was correlated with increased BDNF expression in the CA1 region and the DG.. These results suggest that long-term treadmill exercise after I-R can restore memory function through replacement of multiple damaged structures in the ischemic aged hippocampus.

Topics: Animals; Avoidance Learning; Brain Ischemia; Bromodeoxyuridine; Disease Models, Animal; Exercise Test; Exercise Therapy; Gerbillinae; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; Male; Memory Disorders; Microvessels; Myelin Basic Protein; Myelin Sheath; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Neurogenesis; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Time Factors

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in young adults. Long-term mental disability often occurs in patients suffering moderate and severe TBI while not as frequent in the victims of mild TBI. To explore the potential mechanism underlying this severity-dependent cognitive deficit, we subjected C57/BL6 mice to different severities of controlled cortical impact (CCI) and assessed their learning-memory functions. The mice subjected to moderate and severe TBI exhibited significantly impaired long-term spatial learning-memory ability, which was accompanied by marked white matter injury and hippocampus damage. In contrast, long-term learning-memory deficits or structural abnormalities within the hippocampus or white matter were not significant in the case of mild TBI. According to a correlation analysis, the hippocampus or white matter injury severity was more relevant to Morris water maze outcome than tissue volume. This study revealed that long-term spatial learning-memory deficits are dependent on the severity of destruction in the white matter and hippocampus. Therapeutic strategies targeting both the white matter and hippocampus may be needed to improve the neurological functions in TBI victims.

Topics: Animals; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Disease Models, Animal; Hippocampus; Male; Maze Learning; Memory Disorders; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Myelin Basic Protein; Neurofilament Proteins; Neurons; Severity of Illness Index; Spatial Learning

Astrocytes are coupled via gap junctions (GJs) comprising connexin 43 (Cx43) (Gja1) and Cx30 (Gjb6), which facilitate intercellular exchange of ions. Astrocyte connexins also form heterotypic GJs with oligodendrocytic somata and lamellae. Loss of oligodendrocyte gap junctions results in oligodendrocyte and myelin pathology. However, whether loss of astrocyte GJs affects oligodendrocytes and myelin is not known. To address this question, mice with astrocyte-targeted deletion of Cx43 and global loss of Cx30 [double knock-out (dKO)] were studied using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and functional assays. Commencing around postnatal day 23 and persisting into old age, we found widespread pathology of white matter tracts comprising vacuolated oligodendrocytes and intramyelinic edema. In contrast, gray matter pathology was restricted to the CA1 region of the hippocampus, and consisted of edematous astrocytes. No differences were observed in synaptic density or total NeuN(+) cells in the hippocampus, or olig2(+) cells in the corpus callosum. However, in dKO mice, fewer CC1-positive mature oligodendrocytes were detected, and Western blotting indicated reduced myelin basic protein. Pathology was not noted in mice expressing a single allele of either Cx43 or Cx30. When compared with single connexin knock-outs, dKO mice were impaired in sensorimotor (rotarod, balance beam assays) and spatial memory tasks (object recognition assays). We conclude that loss of astrocytic GJs can result in white matter pathology that has functional consequences.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Astrocytes; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Calcium-Binding Proteins; Cell Proliferation; Connexin 30; Connexin 43; Connexins; Demyelinating Diseases; Disease Models, Animal; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gap Junctions; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Hippocampus; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Memory Disorders; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Microfilament Proteins; Microscopy, Electron; Myelin Basic Protein; Myelin Sheath; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; Phenotype