A possible anti-apoptosis mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen in rats with memory impairments induced by Aβ25-35 / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the possible protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on cognitive deficits induced by amyloid β25-35 (Aβ25-35) and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampi of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods The animal AD model was established in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats by bilateral hippocampal injection of Aβ25-35.Twelve rats were injected with normal saline as controls,and another 12 served as normal controls.After the injection,the model rats were further divided into a model group and a treatment group.All the rats were housed with normal feeding for 2 weeks and then those in the treatment groups received a total of 2 courses of HBO treatment (10 days each with an interval of 3 days in between).The other groups were left with no treatment.After the treatment,the rats' learning and memory ability were tested using Morris' water maze test,and any neuronal changes were observed using TUNEL staining.The expression of mRNA and Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in the hippocampus were detected using a RT-PCR and Western blotting.Results HBO significantly improved the learning and memory impairment and alleviated neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus compared against the control group.In addition,HBO treatment significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 and down-regulated the expression of Bax.Conclusion HBO treatment can prevent learning and memory impairment induced by Aβ25-35 peptides,which might be mediated by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus.