Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in Uremic Rats via the ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway
REN Yan
HU Xiao
CHEN Maosheng
ZHENG Danna
LIU Lin
SHAO Lina
ZHU Bin
Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract(GSPE)on cognitive function in uremic rats and its underlying mechanism.Methods Thirty male rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=6 per group):normal control(NC)group,uremic model(UC)group,low-dose GSPE(L-GSPE)group,medium-dose GSPE(M-GSPE)group,and high-dose GSPE(H-GSPE)group.The uremic rat model was established via 5/6 nephrectomy.The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed using the Morris water maze test.The protein expression levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK),nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)in the hippocampal tissue were measured by Western blot analysis.Results Compared with the UC group,the average escape latency was significantly shortened(P＜0.05)and the number of platform crossings was significantly increased(P＜0.05)in both the M-GSPE and H-GSPE groups.Furthermore,the protein expression levels of p-ERK,Nrf2,and HO-1 in the hippocampus were significantly up-regulated.Conclusion This study confirms that GSPE can ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in uremic rats,potentially by activating the ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
Keywords：grape seed proanthocyanidin extracturemiacognitive functionERK/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
Publication Date：2026-05-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-07-17(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 12-19 )