Effect of beta-carotene on learning, memory and expression of caspase-3 and phosphorylated tau in hippocampus of rats with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of β-carotene ( β-C ) on the learning and memory and the expression of caspase-3 and p-tau expression in hippocampus of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome ( OSAS) rats. Methods Twenty-four adult SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, OSAS model group ( model group) and β-C intervention group (intervention group), with 8 rats in each group. A hypoxic chamber was used to establish an OSAS rat animal model. The rats in model group and intervention group were given by gavage before intragastric administration, and no treatment was performed in the normal group. After completion of the modeling, the Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory ability of the experimental rats. Observing the pathological changes of hippocampal tissue in rats by HE staining. The protein expression of caspase-3 and p-tau in hippocampus was detected by Western Blotting. Results Escape latency time of model group in each time point were significantly prolonged than those in normal control group ( all P<0. 05), and escape latency time of intervention group at 2-5 d were significantly shorter than those in model group (all P<0. 05). The number of times of crossing the platform in model group was significantly less than that in normal control group and intervention group ( all P<0. 05). Compared with those in model group, the expression of caspase-3 and p-tau in normal control group and intervention group were significantly lower (all P<0. 05). Conclusion β-C can reduce the impairment of learning and memory ability caused by OSAS, and the mechanism may be related to its inhibition of caspase-3 and p-tau protein expression.