[Resveratrol upregulates the gene and protein expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 and protein kinase C in the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of resveratrol(Res) on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR1)and protein kinase C(PKC)expressions in the hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease(AD) rats.
METHODS: The model of AD was induced by ovariectomy combined intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose(100 mg/kg). Thirty-Six female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups inculding Sham control group, AD model group, Res low dose group(20 mg/kg), Res middle dose group(40 mg/kg), Res high dose group(80 mg/kg group)and estrogen replacement therapy(ERT) group. The genes of NMDAR1 and PKC were detected by real-time PCR. NMDAR1 total protein, p-NMDAR1 protein and PKC protein were checked by Western blot.
RESULTS: Compared with the Sham control group, the gene expressions and the protein expressions of NMDAR1 and PKC in the model group were decreased(P<0. 05). Moreover, compared with the model group, genes of NMDAR1 and PKC in the 3 Res dose groups were significantly increased(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). The elavated levels of genes of NMDAR1 and PKC in ERT group were similar to the Res 80 mg/kg group(P<0. 01). p-NMDAR1/NMDAR1 and the protein expressions of PKC were also significantly increased in Res 40 mg/kg group and Res 80 mg/kg group as well as in ERT group(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION: Up-regulating the gene and protein expressions of p-NMDAR1/NMDAR1 and PKC may be one of the mechanisms of improvement of Res on the memory in AD rats.