OBJECTIVE To study the effects of puerarin (Pur) on learning-memory and synaptic structure in cerebral frontal cortex and hippocampus of estrogen-deprived female mice. METHODS One week after ovariectomy (Ovx) or sham operation,ICR female mice received daily injection of Pur (40 or 120 mg·kg-1, ip) or estradiol benzoate (EB, 4 μg·d-1,sc) for 4 weeks. Spatial memory was then tested by the water maze,and active avoidance paradigm was tested by shuttle-box, while the overall locomotor activity was monitored using open field. In additional, synaptic morphologic parameters were examined using electron microscopy and graph analyzer.RESULTS The distance to reach the platform was significantly reduced in Ovx mice treated with Pur at 120 mg·kg-1,and the number of active avoidance was increased by Pur of 120 mg·kg-1,when being compared to vehicle treated Ovx mice. The results from synaptic ultrastructural measurement and analysis did not show any differences in the length of active zones and the curvature of synaptic interface among sham, Ovx, and Ovx plus EB or Pur replacement mice. However, EB or Pur replacement effectively normalized the changes induced by Ovx, reducing the width synaptic cleft, enlarging the thickness of postsynaptic density (PSD) in the presynapse in both cerebral cortex Fr1 and hippocampus CA1 areas. CONCLUSION The beneficial effects of Pur on improving memory behavior of Ovx female mice are associated with the changes of some structural parameters of synapses, including the width of PSD and synaptic cleft in frontal cortex and hippocampus regions.
XU Xio-hong.
Effects of Puerarin on Learning-Memory and Synaptic Structure in Ovariectomized Mice [J]. Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2008, 43(16): 1238-1242
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