Ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 improve spatial learning and increase hippocampal synaptophysin level in mice.
We investigated the cognition enhancing effects of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1. Mice were trained in a Morris water maze following injection (i.p.) of Rb1 (1 mg/kg) or Rg1 (1 mg/kg) for 4 days. Both Rb1- and Rg1-injected mice showed enhanced spatial learning compared to control animals. The hippocampus, but not the frontal cortex, of treated mice contained higher density of a synaptic marker protein, synaptophysin, compared to control mice. Electrophysiological recordings in hippocampal slices revealed that Rb1 or Rg1 injection did not change the magnitude of paired-pulse facilitation or long-term potentiation. Our results suggest that Rb1 and Rg1 enhance spatial learning ability by increasing hippocampal synaptic density without changing plasticity of individual synapses.
Mook-Jung
I
I
Brain Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Hong
H S
HS
Boo
J H
JH
Lee
K H
KH
Yun
S H
SH
Cheong
M Y
MY
Joo
I
I
Huh
K
K
Jung
M W
MW
D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004594:Electrophysiology; D036145:Ginsenosides; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism*
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; D016708:Synaptophysin; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1