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Astaxanthin Rescues Memory Impairments in Rats with Vascular Dementia by Protecting Against Neuronal Death in the Hippocampus.
- Source :
-
Neuromolecular medicine [Neuromolecular Med] 2024 Jul 16; Vol. 26 (1), pp. 29. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 16. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Vascular dementia (VaD) is a cognitive disorder characterized by a decline in cognitive function resulting from cerebrovascular disease. The hippocampus is particularly susceptible to ischemic insults, leading to memory deficits in VaD. Astaxanthin (AST) has shown potential therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying its protective effects in VaD and against hippocampal neuronal death remain unclear. In this study, We used the bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) method to establish a chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) rat model of VaD and administered a gastric infusion of AST at 25 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks to explore its therapeutic effects. Memory impairments were assessed using Y-maze and Morris water maze tests. We also performed biochemical analyses to evaluate levels of hippocampal neuronal death and apoptosis-related proteins, as well as the impact of astaxanthin on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and oxidative stress. Our results demonstrated that AST significantly rescued memory impairments in VaD rats. Furthermore, astaxanthin treatment protected against hippocampal neuronal death and attenuated apoptosis. We also observed that AST modulated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, suggesting its involvement in promoting neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. Additionally, AST exhibited antioxidant properties, mitigating oxidative stress in the hippocampus. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic effects of AST in VaD. By elucidating the mechanisms underlying the actions of AST, this study highlights the importance of protecting hippocampal neurons and suggests potential targets for intervention in VaD. There are still some unanswered questions include long-term effects and optimal dosage of the use in human. Further research is warranted to fully understand the therapeutic potential of AST and its application in the clinical treatment of VaD.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Rats
Male
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt metabolism
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases metabolism
Maze Learning drug effects
Disease Models, Animal
Signal Transduction drug effects
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases metabolism
Cell Death drug effects
Antioxidants therapeutic use
Antioxidants pharmacology
Morris Water Maze Test drug effects
Xanthophylls therapeutic use
Xanthophylls pharmacology
Hippocampus drug effects
Dementia, Vascular drug therapy
Memory Disorders drug therapy
Memory Disorders etiology
Oxidative Stress drug effects
Neurons drug effects
Apoptosis drug effects
Neuroprotective Agents therapeutic use
Neuroprotective Agents pharmacology
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1559-1174
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Neuromolecular medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 39014255
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-024-08796-z