Administration of Phytoceramide Enhances Memory and Upregulates the Expression of pCREB and BDNF in Hippocampus of Mice.
- Author:
Yeonju LEE
1
;
Jieun KIM
;
Soyong JANG
;
Seikwan OH
Author Information
1. Department of Neuroscience and Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, Republic of Korea. skoh@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Memory;
Neurogenesis;
Phytoceramide;
Y-maze
- MeSH:
Animals;
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor*;
Bromodeoxyuridine;
Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein;
Dentate Gyrus;
Hippocampus*;
Immunoblotting;
Learning;
Memory*;
Methods;
Mice*;
Mice, Inbred ICR;
Neurogenesis
- From:Biomolecules & Therapeutics
2013;21(3):229-233
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This study was aimed at investigating the possible effects of phytoceramide (Pcer) on learning and memory and their underlying mechanisms. Phytoceramide was orally administered to ICR mice for 7 days. Memory performances were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. The expressions of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured with immunoblot. The incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in hippocampal regions was investigated by using immunohistochemical methods. Treatment of Pcer enhanced cognitive performances in the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the phosphorylated CREB and BDNF were significantly increased on hippocampus in the Pcer-treated mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the number of immunopositive cells to BrdU was significantly increased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus regions after Pcer-treatment for 7 days. These results suggest that Pcer contribute to enhancing memory and BDNF expression and it could be secondary to the elevation of neurogenesis.
