Evaluation of sea cucumber peptides-assisted memory activity and acetylation modification in hippocampus of test mice based on scopolamine-induced experimental animal model of memory disorder

Abstract

To investigate the dose-effect relationship of sea cucumber peptides on memory function improvement, animal experiments, behavioral experiments, ACh content, AChE activity, hippocampal morphology, and protein modifications were detected. Sea cucumber peptides (650 mg/kg, 1300 mg/kg, 2600 mg/kg body weight) and piracetam (400 mg/kg) were gavaged into the mice. Scopolamine (5 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to mice. In behavioral experiments, the escape latency and the shocked time of sea cucumber peptides (SCP) groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Determination of biochemical indicators found that ACh content and AChE activity of SCP groups were increased (P < 0.05). The number of neurons in the hippocampus of SCP groups were larger, arranged neatly and intact. The histone acetyltransferases activity of SCP groups may be lower than that of the Scopolamine group, so the acetylation level is down-regulated and approached to dynamic equilibrium, thereby the memory activity of mice was improved.