Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Hippocampal Neuron Injury in Alzheimer's Disease Rats
FAN Hongjuan
LI Shurui
KANG Kaining
GUAN Lianying
Abstract：Objective:To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide(APS)on hippocampal neuron injury in rats with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods:A total of 180 healthy Wistar rats were divided into normal group,model group,low APS(APS-L),medium APS(APS-M),high APS dose(APS-H)group and piracetam(PIR)group by random number table method.Except the normal group,the AD rat model was prepared by bilateral hippocampal injection of β-amyloid 1-42 fragments(Aβ1-42).APS-L,APS-M and APS-H groups were given 200,400 and 800 mg/kg APS intragastatically,respectively.The PIR group were given 500 mg/kg PIR intragastatically.The normal group and model group were given 0.9％sodium chloride solution intragastatically,once a day,for 30 days.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes of neurons in CA1 region of hippocampus.Transmission electron microscopy was uesd to observe the ultrastructure of neurons.Superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutamate glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)content in hippocampus were detected by spectrophotometry.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The expressions of Nrf2,HO-1,cytoplasmic nuclear factor-κB p65(NF-κB p65),and nuclear NF-κB p65 were detected by Western Blot.Results:Compared with model group,the pathological morphological and ultrastructural changes of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region of rats in APS-L,APS-M,APS-H group,and PIR group improved with different degrees.The pathological grade of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region significantly decreased in APS-M,APS-H and PIR groups(P<0.05),the activities of SOD and GSH-Px significantly increased and the content of MDA significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 significantly decreased(P<0.05),Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA and protein expressions significantly increased(P<0.05),while nuclear NF-κB p65 expression and nuclear NF-κB p65/cytoplasmic NF-κB p65 expression significantly decreased(P<0.05).APS showed a dose-dependent effect on each index,and the effect of APS-H group on each index was better than piracetam group(P<0.05).Conclusion:APS shows a dose-dependent protective effect on hippocampal neuron injury in AD rats.The mechanism may be related to activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway,inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation,and inhibition of oxidative stress.
Keywords：Alzheimer's diseaseastragalus polysaccharidehippocampal neuronnuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 pathwayoxidative stress
Publication Date：2023-12-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 4340-4346 )