Effects of Ganoderma Triterpenoids on Learning and Memory Impairment in Rats with Epilepsy / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To study the effect of Ganoderma triterpenoids combined with exogenous monosialoteterahexosyl ganglioside (GM1) on cognitive dysfunction in rats with epilepsy. Methods:A total of 75 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into blank control group, epileptic model group, Ganoderma triterpenoids group, GM1 group and GM1 combined with Ganoderma triterpenoids group (combination group), with 15 rats in each group. All the groups, except the blank control group, were intraperitoneally injected with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) 35 mg/kg once a day for 28 days. Medication groups were given corresponding administration based on daily intraperitoneal injection of PTZ. They were tested with Morris Water Maze; and were observed with transmission electron microscopy and HE staining for hippocampal neurons. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of actin-binding protein (Cofilin), synaptophysin (SYN) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) mRNA in hippocampus of rats. Results:Compared with the blank control group, the escape lantency prolonged in the epileptic model group in all the time points (P < 0.05). Compared with the epileptic model group, the escape lantency shortened in the treatment groups somewhen (P < 0.05). Compared with the epileptic model group, the number of crossing the platform increased in the treatment groups (P < 0.01), and the time of staying in the target quadrant prolonged (P < 0.01); while the number of pyramidal cells increased, the nuclear lysis and fragmentation reduced, the structure of neurons and the number of synapses improved， as well as the organelle structure. Compared with the blank control group, the expression of Cofilin mRNA increased (P < 0.05), and the expression of SYN mRNA and GAP-43 mRNA decreased (P < 0.05) in the epileptic model group; compared with the epileptic model group, the expression of Cofilin mRNA decreased (P < 0.05), and the expression of SYN mRNA increased (P < 0.05) in all the treatment groups, while the expression of GAP-43 mRNA increased (P < 0.05) only in the combination group. Conclusion:Ganoderma triterpenoids, GM1 and their combination can improve the learning and memory abilities of epileptic rats, which may be associated with increasing the expression of SYN and GAP-43, decreasing the expression of Cofilin, to promote the synaptic remodeling of hippocampal tissue and protect brain neurons from PTZ-induced epilepsy.