Jujuboside A Improves Cognitive Function in Rat Model of VCI via PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20241808
- VernacularTitle:基于PI3K/Akt信号通路探讨酸枣仁皂苷A改善血管性认知障碍模型大鼠认知功能的作用机制
- Author:
Zixuan HUANG
1
;
Shuo YANG
2
;
Jiaqi ZHOU
1
;
Gengchao ZHANG
2
;
Qiuyun YOU
1
;
Aihua TAN
3
Author Information
1. Ministry of Education Engineering Research Centre of Chinese Medicine Protection Technology and New Product Development for Elderly Brain Health，Hubei University of Chinese Medicine，Wuhan 430065，China
2. Huanggang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Hubei University of Chinese Medicine，Huanggang 438000，China
3. Hubei Shizhen Laboratory，Wuhan 430065，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
jujuboside A;
vascular cognitive impairment;
learning and memory abilities;
apoptosis;
phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase （Akt） signaling pathway
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(6):107-114
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of jujuboside A （JuA） on the learning and memory abilities and histopathological changes in the rat model of vascular cognitive impairment （VCI） and explore the potential mechanisms by which JuA treats VCI. MethodsA total of 50 male SPF-grade SD rats were randomized into a sham operation group （n=10）， a blank control group （n=10）， and a modeling group （n=30）. The rats in the modeling group underwent bilateral carotid artery ligation （2-VO） for the modeling of VCI. After stabilization， the VCI rats were randomized into model， JuA （20 mg·kg-¹）， and donepezil （0.45 mg·kg-¹） groups. After 4 weeks of gavage， the novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests were conducted to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of rats. Nissl staining was employed to evaluate the morphology and number of hippocampal neurons. Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3β （GSK-3β）， cAMP response element-binding protein （CREB）， B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， and protein kinase B （Akt） in the hippocampal tissue. Western blot was employed to quantify the protein levels of GSK-3β， p-GSK-3β， p-CREB， Bcl-2， PI3K， p-PI3K， Akt， and p-Akt in the hippocampal tissue. ResultCompared with the sham operation group， the model group exhibited declines in the learning and memory abilities （P<0.01）， neuronal damage and decreased neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region （P<0.01）， up-regulation in the mRNA level of GSK-3β （P<0.01）， and down-regulation in the mRNA levels of PI3K， Akt， CREB， and Bcl-2， as well as the protein levels of p-PI3K， p-Akt， p-GSK-3β， p-CREB， and Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. In comparison to the model group， both the JuA and donepezil groups demonstrated improvements in the learning and memory abilities （P<0.05， P<0.01）， with reduced neuronal damage and increased neurons （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the two groups showed down-regulation in the mRNA level of GSK-3β （P<0.01） and up-regulation in the mRNA levels of PI3K， Akt， CREB， and Bcl-2 and the protein levels of p-PI3K， p-Akt， p-GSK-3β， p-CREB， and Bcl-2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There were no statistically significant differences between the blank control and sham operation groups in terms of the learning and memory abilities， neuron count， and mRNA and protein levels of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway-related factors. ConclusionJuA can ameliorate the cognitive impairment in the rat model of VCI by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， reducing the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons， and alleviating the hippocampal neuronal damage.
