The Effects of Puerariae Flos on Stress-induced Deficits of Learning and Memory in Ovariectomized Female Rats.
10.4196/kjpp.2009.13.2.85
- Author:
Hyun Jung PARK
1
;
Seung Moo HAN
;
Won Ju YOON
;
Kyung Soo KIM
;
Insop SHIM
Author Information
1. Department of Integrative Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea. ishim@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Puerariae flos;
Ovariectomy;
Morris water maze;
Choline acetyltransferase;
Immobilization stress
- MeSH:
Animals;
Choline O-Acetyltransferase;
Female;
Hippocampus;
Humans;
Immobilization;
Learning;
Memory;
Neurons;
Ovariectomy;
Plants, Medicinal;
Pueraria;
Rats
- From:The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
2009;13(2):85-89
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Puerariae flos (PF) is a traditional oriental medicinal plant and has clinically been prescribed for a long time. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of PF on repeated stress-induced alterations of learning and memory on a Morris water maze (MWM) test in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. The changes in the reactivity of the cholinergic system were assessed by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hippocampus after behavioral testing. The female rats were randomly divided into four groups: the nonoperated and nonstressed group (normal), the sham-operated and stressed group (control), the ovariectomized and stressed group (OS), and the ovariectomized, stressed and PF treated group (OSF). Rats were exposed to immobilization stress (IMO) for 14 d (2 h/d), and PF (400 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before IMO stress. Results showed that treatments with PF caused significant reversals of the stress-induced deficits in learning and memory on a spatial memory task, and also increased the ChAT immunoreactivities. In conclusion, administration of PF improved spatial learning and memory in OVX rats, and PF may be useful for the treatment of postmenopausal-related dementia.
