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Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that diabetes induced learning and memory deficits. However, the mechanism of memory impairment induced by diabetes is poorly understood. Sprague–Dawley rats were used in the present study to investigate the effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on spatial learning and memory with the Morris water maze. The excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampus was also examined. Diabetes impaired spatial learning and memory of rats. Diabetes decreased the membrane excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, effects which may contribute to the behavioral deficits. To investigate the further ionic mechanisms, the sodium currents and the potassium currents were detected. Diabetes decreased both transient and persistent sodium currents, and increased both transient and sustained potassium currents, which leads to the reduction of neuron excitability and to the increase of firing accommodation. The results of the present study suggested that sodium and potassium currents contributed to the inhibitory effect of diabetes on neuron excitability, further influencing learning and memory processing. Modulating the ion channels and increasing the membrane excitability are possible candidates for preventing the impairments of diabetes on hippocampal function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that paradoxical sleep has a key role in learning and memory, and sleep deprivation interferes with learning and memory. However, the mechanism of memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation is poorly understood. The present study investigated the effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) on spatial learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze. Effects of PSD on CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampus were also examined. PSD impaired spatial learning of rats. PSD induced translocation of Bax to mitochondria and cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm, and decreased the membrane excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, effects which may contribute to the deficits in learning behavior. These results may partially explain the mechanism of the effect of PSD on learning. Modulating the excitability of hippocampal neurons and protecting mitochondrial function are possible targets for preventing the effects of paradoxical sleep deprivation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that diabetes induces learning and memory deficits. However, the mechanism of memory impairment induced by diabetes is poorly understood. The present study investigated the effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on spatial learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze. The effects of diabetes on CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampus were also examined. Diabetes impaired spatial learning and memory of rats. Diabetes induced the apoptosis of neurons and translocation of Bax from cytoplasm to mitochondria. On the contrary, diabetes induced cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm from mitochondria. Release of Cyt-c from mitochondria into cytoplasm may play a role in apoptosis of the CA1 pyramidal neurons, which resulted in a decrease of the number of neurons in hippocampus and impaired the performance function. These results partially explain the mechanism of the effect of diabetes on learning and memory. To protect mitochondrial function is possible candidate for preventing the impairments of diabetes on hippocampal function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]