Hyperglycemic Effect on Brain Cholinergic Functions, Oxidative Stress and Protein Expression of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (Bdnf) on Cognitive Functions in Streptozotocin Induced-Diabetic Rats
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015
Authors
Ebuehi, O.A.T.
Dibie, D.C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research in Neuroscience
Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most severe metabolic disorders in humans characterized by hyperglycemia due to a relative or an absolute lack of insulin or the action of insulin on its target tissue or both. Many neurodegenerative disorders, such as deficits in learning memory and cognition, are associated with diabetes mellitus.
Objective: The objective of the present study was to decipher the effect of hyperglycemia on cholinergic functions, oxidative stress and protein expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in streptozotocin induced- diabetic rats.
Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were used for the study. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats (130-150g) each were divided into 2equal groups with six rats in each group (diabetic and control). The rats were sacrificed and biochemical parameters, such as blood glucose, C-peptide, total protein, acetyl choline levels, acetyl cholinesterase activity and antioxidant status were determined. The BDNF protein expression and learning, memory and cognitive functions in rats were also determined. Results: The results obtained showed that diabetic rats exhibited decreased acetylcholine level and also an alteration (down regulation) of the expressed BDNF of STZ-induced diabetic rats compared with the control. The diabetic rats also exhibited significantly decreased plasma C-peptide and total protein levels, as well as increased oxidative stress. Conclusions: Data of the study indicate that the streptozotocin induced diabetic rats had increased oxidative stress,
decreased acetylcholine levels and down regulation of BDNF protein expression, thereby impairing memory, learning, and cognitive functions.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Citation
Ebuehi, O.A.T, Dibie, D.C. (2015). Hyperglycemic Effect on Brain Cholinergic Functions, Oxidative Stress and Protein Expression of Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (Bdnf) on Cognitive Functions in Streptozotocin Induced-Diabetic Rats. Research in Neuroscience, 4(1): 1-9.