Effects of estrogen on P-Tau, ChAT and nerve growth factor protein expressions in the brain tissue of rats with Alzheimer's disease / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of estrogen on the expressions of phosphorylated Tau (P-Tau), ChAT and nerve growth factor (NGF) protein in the brain tissue of rat models of Alzheimer disease (AD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat models of AD were established by injecting Aβ1-42 protein fragments in the right lateral ventricle. Two weeks later, 17β-estradiol tablets were implanted subcutaneously at the neck of the rats and maintained for 30 days. The pathological changes in the rats' brain neurons and alterations in the expressions of P-Tau, ChAT and NGF proteins were observed using HE staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the AD rats, neurofibrillary tangles occurred in the brain tissue, and estrogen treatment significantly reduced the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Estrogen treatment also resulted in lowered P-Tau expression and increased ChAT and NGF protein expressions in comparison with those in the AD model rats.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Estrogen can up-regulate ChAT and NGF and down-regulate tau protein expression, thus producing obvious therapeutic effect on AD in rats.</p>