Icariin upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factors in the hippocampus of the senescence-accelerated mouse

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after intragastric administration of icariin to senescence-accelerated mice (P8 strain). Methods A total of 20 healthy male senescence accelerated mouse P8 (SAMP8) mice aged 6 months and 10 senescence accelerated mouse/resistance (SAM-R) mice with the same age were divided into model, blank, and icariin groups. Mice in the icariin group were intragastrically administered icariin in a 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose suspension (0.01 ml/g). Mice in the model control and normal control groups were intragastrically administered 1 ml of double distilled water. Intragastric administration was done once a day in each group, for eight consecutive weeks. Spatial learning and memory abilities were detected by Morris water maze test, Expression of BDNF in mouse brain tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay. Results At 8 weeks after intragastric administration of icariin to senescence-accelerated mice (P8 strain), Morris water maze results showed that escape latency was shortened (P<0.05), and the number of platform crossings was increased (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot assay showed significantly increased levels of BDNF (P<0.05). Conclusions These results suggest that icariin upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor and improves learning and memory functions in hippocampus of the senescence-accelerated mouse. Key words: ICARIIN/PD; Aging/DE/PA/ME; Alzheimer disease/ZD/PA/ME; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor/ME; Hippocampus/DE/PA/ME