Ameliorative effects of yokukansan, a traditional Japanese medicine, on learning and non-cognitive disturbances in the Tg2576 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of the present study is to clarify the effects of yokukansan (TJ-54) on learning and non-cognitive disturbances in the Tg2576 mouse expressing the human form of the APP695SWE (APP-Tg mice), which is considered to be an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Powdered diets containing 0.5 and 1.0% TJ-54 were given to the mice for 10 months (from 5 to 15 months old). The Morris water-maze test, elevated plus-maze test, and open-field test were performed for evaluation of learning and non-cognitive disturbances.


RESULTS
Treatment with 1.0% TJ-54 for 5 months shortened the time it took for APP-Tg positive (+) mice to reach the platform in the Morris water-maze test. In the elevated plus-maze test, treatment with 1.0% TJ-54 for 2 months significantly reduced the increased number of entries and the time spent in open arms observed in APP-Tg(+) mice. In an open-field test, treatment of 1.0% TJ-54 for 9 months significantly suppressed the increase in locomotion observed in APP-Tg(+) mice.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the possibility that TJ-54 ameliorates learning deficits and non-cognitive defects including a decrease in the anxiety (or disinhibition) and an increase in locomotor activity (hyperactivity) observed in APP-Tg(+) mice.
Tabuchi
Masahiro
M
Tsumura Research Laboratories, Tsumura & Co., 3586 Yoshiwara, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-1192, Japan. tabuchi_masahiro@mail.tsumura.co.jp
Yamaguchi
Takuji
T
Iizuka
Seiichi
S
Imamura
Sachiko
S
Ikarashi
Yasushi
Y
Kase
Yoshio
Y
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; C524644:Yi-Gan San