Effects of liquiritigenin treatment on the learning and memory deficits induced by amyloid beta-peptide (25-35) in rats.
Considerable evidence has emerged supporting the neuroprotective and cognition-preserving effects of estrogen, but these benefits are complicated by the evidence that estrogen increases the risk of certain cancers. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that specifically target the brain while avoiding peripheral organs offer a way to allow the application of estrogen treatment to neurodegenerative diseases with fewer undesirable effects. In an attempt to find such estrogen substitutes, liquiritigenin was discovered as a relatively selective estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) agonist. In the present study, we extend our previous findings to investigate the effects of liquiritigenin on the learning and memory deficits and related neuropathology in Abeta(25-35) hippocampal-injected rats. Our results show that liquiritigenin treatment improves the behavioral performance of the model rats and attenuates neuronal loss in the brain. More importantly, liquiritigenin treatment decreases mRNA levels and protein expression of Notch-2, an effect that could promote the generation of new neurons. These findings provide evidence for the beneficial activity of liquiritigenin in a brain-injured rat model and support the continued investigation of SERMs such as liquiritigenin as an alternative to estrogen-based hormone therapy in reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Liu
Rui Ting
RT
School of Life Science and Biological Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
Zou
Li Bo
LB
Fu
Jie Ying
JY
Lu
Qiu Jun
QJ
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051883:Receptor, Notch2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D044950:Flavanones; D018697:Nootropic Agents; C497766:Notch2 protein, rat; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); C083152:liquiritigenin