Long Tan1,2, Hongpeng Yang3, Wei Pang1, Haiqiang Li4, Wei Liu1, Shoudan Sun5, Nan Song1, Wanqi Zhang2, Yugang Jiang1. 1. Department of Nutrition, Tianjin Institute of Health and Environmental Medicine, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Tianjin, China. 2. Department of Nutrition and Food Security, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China. 3. Tianjin Agricultural College, Tianjin, China. 4. Yantai Economic and Technological Development Area Hospital, Yantai Economic and Technological Development Area, Yantai, China. 5. Department of Nutrition, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Blueberry (BB) can provide a wide range of antioxidant benefits for AD. There is evidence that BB extracts could improve brain functions. However, the details are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the possible mechanism involved in the improvement of learning and memory capacity from BB extracts in AD. METHODS: APP/PS1 transgenic mice were fed BB extracts for 16 weeks. The capacity of learning and memory was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) test, and long-term potentiation (LTP) was determined to evaluate hippocampal neuronal plasticity at the end of administration. Pathological changes in the brain were observed, and the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK1/2) were determined to explore the mechanism of BB extract-induced benefits. RESULTS: AD mice exhibited more difficulties to learn and remember the exact position of the platform in the MWM test. The data showed that AD mice lacked effective learning in the platform search. In contrast, AD mice exhibited better performance both in the training phase and probe test of MWM after the BB treatment. Moreover, LTP was enhanced and the neuron loss was alleviated with BB treatment, while we did not find any obvious effect on the elimination of amyloid-β. In the AD mice, the expression of ERK1/2 was significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the level of BDNF was decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BB treatment was beneficial for the improvement of learning and memory of AD, and these effects might be related to the regulation of BDNF.
BACKGROUND: Blueberry (BB) can provide a wide range of antioxidant benefits for AD. There is evidence that BB extracts could improve brain functions. However, the details are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the possible mechanism involved in the improvement of learning and memory capacity from BB extracts in AD. METHODS: APP/PS1transgenic mice were fed BB extracts for 16 weeks. The capacity of learning and memory was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) test, and long-term potentiation (LTP) was determined to evaluate hippocampal neuronal plasticity at the end of administration. Pathological changes in the brain were observed, and the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK1/2) were determined to explore the mechanism of BB extract-induced benefits. RESULTS:ADmice exhibited more difficulties to learn and remember the exact position of the platform in the MWM test. The data showed that ADmice lacked effective learning in the platform search. In contrast, ADmice exhibited better performance both in the training phase and probe test of MWM after the BB treatment. Moreover, LTP was enhanced and the neuron loss was alleviated with BB treatment, while we did not find any obvious effect on the elimination of amyloid-β. In the ADmice, the expression of ERK1/2 was significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the level of BDNF was decreased (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:BB treatment was beneficial for the improvement of learning and memory of AD, and these effects might be related to the regulation of BDNF.
Authors: Bin Xue; Shah Mohammad Abbas Waseem; Zhixin Zhu; Mohammed A Alshahrani; Nazia Nazam; Farah Anjum; Alaa Hamed Habib; Misbahuddin M Rafeeq; Fauzia Nazam; Monika Sharma Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2022-05-25 Impact factor: 5.152