Donepezil promotes neurogenesis in the subventricular zone：an experimental study of cerebral ischemia in mice / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the influence of donepezil on neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) under the cerebral ischemic conditions. Methods Sixty mice were randomly assigned to a sham +vehicle group, a middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) + vehicle group and a MCAO + donepezil group, 20 in each group. A model of MCAO was established. Neural stem cells/progenitor cells were labeled by Mash1, and neuroblasts were labeled by doublecortin (DCX). The expressions of DCX in the SVZ cells of each group were detected by immunofluorescence. The expressions of Mash1 and DCX in the SVZ cells of each group were quantified by Western blot. Results 10 days after MCAO was undergone, DCX-positive cells were seen in the SVZ of each group, and the expressions of DCX and Mash1 in MCAO + vehicle group were markedly increased as compared with the sham + vehicle group (P < 0.05), and that in MCAO + donepezil group were significantly increased as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion As a kind of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil can promote neurogenesis in SVZ under the cerebral ischemic conditions.