ABSTRACT
AIM:To observe the effect of icariin-astragaloside Ⅳ-puerarin mixture(Yin-Huang-Ge mixture,YHG)on cognitive function and ferroptosis amino acid metabolism pathway in hepcidin(HAMP)knockout APPswe/PS1dE9(APP/PS1 HAMP-/-)mice.METHODS:The mice were divided into 7 groups:negative control(C57BL/6 mice)group,APP/PS1 group,APP/PS1 HAMP-/-group,APP/PS1+YHG group,APP/PS1 HAMP-/-+YHG group,APP/PS1+de-ferasirox(DFX)group,and APP/PS1 HAMP-/-+DFX group,with 6 mice in each group.The YHG and DFX were adminis-tered intragastrically,while the mice in C57 group,APP/PS1 group and APP/PS1 HAMP-/-group were given intragastric administration of distilled water,once a day for 2 months.The iron content in mouse brain tissues was detected by tissue iron kit.The morphological changes of the mitochondria in hippocampal neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of the mice.The content of neuronal nu-clear antigen(NeuN)in mouse brain tissues was detected by immunofluorescence staining.The expression of glutathione(GSH)in mouse brain tissues was detected by biochemical kit.The expression levels of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit(GCLC)and glutamatase 2(GLS2)in mouse brain tissues were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with C57BL/6 mice,the brain iron content of APP/PS1 mice was significantly increased(P<0.01),the mitochondria were seriously damaged,the learning and memory ability was significantly decreased(P<0.05),the brain neurons were seri-ously damaged(P<0.01),and the expression levels of GSH,GCLC and GLS2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with APP/PS1 mice,the brain iron content of APP/PS1 HAMP-/-mice was significantly increased(P<0.01),the mitochondria were seriously damaged,the learning and memory ability was significantly decreased(P<0.05),the brain neurons were seriously damaged(P<0.01),and the expression levels of GSH,GCLC and GLS2 were significantly decreased(P<0.05).After treatment with YHG and DFX,the brain iron content was significantly decreased(P<0.01),the mitochondrial damage was alleviated,the learning and memory ability was significantly increased(P<0.05),the brain neuron damage was alleviated(P<0.01),and the expression levels of GSH,GCLC and GLS2 were significantly increased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The YHG can improve the cognitive function of APP/PS1 HAMP-/-mice,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of ferroptosis amino acid metabolism and the enhancement of antioxidant capacity.