[Effect of tetramethylpyrazine on learning, memory and cholinergic system in D-galactose-lesioned mice].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of tetramethylpyrazine on learning, memory, and cholinergic system in D-galactose-lesioned mice.


METHODS
C57BL/6J mice were given subcutaneous injection of 2% D-galactose for 40 days (100 mg.kg-1.d-1). Normal saline, tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) and Huperzine A (HupA) were given respectively by intragastric administration in different study groups from the third week on. Learning and memory ability were tested by Morris water maze for 5 days at the sixth week. Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, the binding sites (Bmax) and the affinity (KD) of M-cholinergic receptor were determined.


RESULTS
The learning and memory dysfunction, with lowered AchE activity and M-cholinergic receptor binding sites were found in the model group as compared with the normal control group. The tetramethylpyrazine, especially at the dose of 100 mg.kg-1.d-1, could markedly attenuate cognitive dysfunction, while elevate the lowered AchE activity (P < 0.05) and M-cholinergic receptor binding sites (P < 0.005) in the cerebral cortex of mice treated with D-galactose.


CONCLUSIONS
The tetramethylpyrazine can significantly improve central cholinergic system function, and thus enhance the learning and memory ability in D-galactose-lesioned mice.
Zhang
Chun
C
Department of Nuclear Medicine, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
Wang
Shi-zhen
SZ
Zuo
Ping-ping
PP
Cui
Xu
X
Cai
Jiong
J
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005690:Galactose; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D011719:Pyrazines; D043643:Receptor, Muscarinic M1; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine; D005690:Galactose