Simvastatin prevents β-amyloid(25-35)-impaired neurogenesis in hippocampal dentate gyrus through α7nAChR-dependent cascading PI3K-Akt and increasing BDNF via reduction of farnesyl pyrophosphate.

Simvastatin (SV) is reported to improve cognition and slow progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), however underlying mechanism still remains unclear. In hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), β-amyloid (Aβ) selectively impairs survival and neurite growth of newborn neurons in the 2(nd) week after birth. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of SV on the impairment of neurogenesis and the spatial cognitive deficits in Aβ25-35 (3 nmol)-injected (i.c.v.) mice (Aβ25-35-mice). Herein, we reported that the SV-treatment (20 mg/kg) on days 2-14 after BrdU-injection could dose-dependently protect the survival and neurite growth of newborn neurons, which was blocked by the α7nAChR antagonist MLA or the farnesol (FOH) that can convert to farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), but not the α4β2nAChR antagonist DHβE. The SV-treatment in Aβ25-35-mice rescued the decline of Akt phosphorylation and increased the ERK1/2 phosphorylation in hippocampus, which was sensitive to MLA and FOH. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 could abolish the SV-protected neurogenesis in Aβ25-35-mice, but the MEK inhibitor U0126 had no effects. The SV-treatment could correct the decline of hippocampal BDNF concentration in Aβ25-35-mice, which was blocked by MLA and FOH. Using Morris water maze and Y-maze tasks, we further observed that the SV-treatment in Aβ25-35-mice could improve their spatial cognitive deficits, which was sensitive to the application of FOH. The results indicate that the SV-treatment in Aβ25-35-mice via reduction of FPP can protect neurogenesis through α7nAChR-cascading PI3K-Akt and increasing BDNF, which may improve spatial cognitive function.