Fresh Gastrodia elata ameliorates learning and memory impairments in sleep interruption induced mice / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the learning and memory enhancement effect of fresh Gastrodia elata (FG) on deficits induced by sleep interruption (SI) in mice. Methods: The contents of gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in FG were determined by HPLC, and the content of polysaccharide were determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method. Then the learning and memory enhancement effects of FG on sleep deficits induced mice were studied. A total of 60 ICR male mice were randomly divided into the control group, the SI model group, the modafinil group, and the FG groups (3 and 9 g/kg). The mice were sleep interrupted continuously for 14 d, behavioral tests were performed by using open field test, novel object recognition (NOR) experiment, Morris water maze (MWM) task, and passive avoidance method. The levels of SOD and MDA in the serum and the hippocampus, Ach, Glu and NE in the hippocampus were measured. Results: There were no significant changes in locomotor activities among all groups. Compared with the control group, the discrimination index (DI) of SI model group in NOR was decreased significantly, the longer escape latency in MWM was observed in SI mice group, in passive avoidance test the errors times increased and the latent period decreased. In addition, the levels of MDA in the serum and the hippocampus were increased, while the contents of SOD, Ach, Glu and NE in the serum and the hippocampus were decreased significantly. In comparison with the SI group, FG (3 and 9 g/kg) treatment markedly enhanced the discriminative ability by elevating DI in NOR, improved the acquisition and retention of spatial memory by decreasing escape latency, decreased the errors times, and prolonged the latency time in passive avoidance test. Administration of FG significantly reduced the elevated MDA level in the serum and the hippocampus and raised the reduced SOD, Ach, Glu and NE levels in the hippocampus. Conclusion: The results reveal that FG treatment can improve SI-induced learning and memory impairments, and ameliorate oxidative stress damage and raise neurotransmitter content. FG is a potential traditional Chinese medicine for improving learning and memory impairments.