Effects of filgrastim on gene expression of cholinergic system in the rat hippocampus

Abstract

Background: Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), which also showed effects on memory and cognation. Although recent studies have begun to explore G-CSF-related mechanisms of action in memory, little is known about its effects on cholinergic system. Since the cholinergic system has a key role in memory and some studies reported effects of G-CSF on cholinergic activity. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene expression was examined in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. Aims and Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of G-CSF treatment on gene expression of AChE and ChAT in the frontal cortex and hippocampus during learning. Materials and Methods: In this study, male Wistar rats were treated for 2 week with filgrastim intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 50, 70 μg/kg/day. All rats received Morris water maze training (4 trials/day for 5 days). Moreover, ChAT and AChE gene expression was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. Results: Over 5 days of training, filgrastim at doses 10, 50 and 70 μg/kg/day did not change the gene expression of ChAT and AChE in frontal cortex and hippocampus although at dose of 50 ug/kg a little changes but not significant observed. Conclusions: The findings observed in this study propose that G-CSF memory enhancer effects doesn’t only cholinergic and other mechanism may be involve.