Effects of minocycline on the cognition and expression of BDNF, Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampus of Alzheimer’s disease model rats / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of minocycline on the cognition and expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), apoptosis related factor Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods The rat model was established by microinjection of Aβ25-35 into lateral ventricle. Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groupscontrol group, model group and minocycline treatment group. Normal saline 1 mL/(kg·d) was intraperitoneally injected in control group and model group. The minocycline treatment group was intraperitoneally injected with minocycline 50 mg/(kg · d) for 14 days. Morris water maze was used to detect the behaviors of animals. The expressions of BDNF, Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampus were measured by Western blotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The apoptosis of neurons was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Results Minocycline greatly improved the behaviors of AD rats, up-regulated the expressions of BDNF and Bcl-2, and down-regulated the expression of Bax in hippocampus, and reduced cell apoptosis. Conclusion Minocycline plays a protective role in neural function by promoting the growth of neurons and inhibiting the neuronal apoptosis.