Mitochondrial protective and anti-apoptotic effects of Rhodiola crenulata extract on hippocampal neurons in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

作     者：Jun-mei Wang Ze-qiang Qu Jin-lang Wu Peter Chung Yuan-shan Zeng 

作者机构：Department of Histology and Embryology Zhongshan School of Medicine Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou Guangdong Province China Department of Electron Microscope Zhongshan School of Medicine Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou Guangdong Province China Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai liao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China Institute of Spinal Cord In)ury Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou Guangdong Province China Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration Nantong University Nantong Jiangsu Province China Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease Zhongshan School of Medicine Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou Guangdong Province China 

出 版 物：《Neural Regeneration Research》 (中国神经再生研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2017年第12卷第12期

页      面：2025-2034页

核心收录：

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100203[医学-老年医学] 10[医学] 

基　　金：supported by grants of the Administrative Bureau of Chinese Traditional Medicine of Guangdong Province of China,No.2007109 the Medical Research Foundation of Guangdong Province of China,No.A20111154 

主　　题：nerve regeneration Alzheimer's disease intracerebroventricular injection streptozotocin neuronal apoptosis neuroprotection cytochrome c oxidase adenosine triphosphate caspase-3 NeuN neural regeneration 

摘      要：In our previous study, we found that the edible alcohol extract of the root of the medicinal plant Rhodiola crenulata（RCE） improved spatial cognition in a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease. Another study from our laboratory showed that RCE enhanced neural cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and prevented damage to hippocampal neurons in a rat model of chronic stress-induced depression. However, the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of RCE are unclear. In the present study, we investigated the anti-apoptotic effect of RCE and its neuroprotective mechanism of action in a rat model of Alzheimer＇s disease established by intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin. The rats were pre-administered RCE at doses of 1.5, 3.0 or 6.0 g/kg for 21 days before model establishment. ATP and cytochrome c oxidase levels were significantly decreased in rats with Alzheimer＇s disease. Furthermore, neuronal injury was obvious in the hippocampus, with the presence of a large number of apoptotic neurons. In comparison, in rats given RCE pretreatment, ATP and cytochrome c oxidase levels were markedly increased, the number of apoptotic neurons was reduced, and mitochondrial injury was mitigated. The 3.0 g/kg dose of RCE had the optimal effect. These findings suggest that pretreatment with RCE prevents mitochondrial dysfunction and protects hippocampal neurons from apoptosis in rats with Alzheimer＇s disease.