[Effects of quercetin on the learning and memory ability of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of quercetin, a flavonoid, on the learning and memory ability of 3-day-old neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain white matter damage (WMD).


METHODS
Sixty 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, WMD model,and quercetin treatment groups (20 and 40 mg/kg). There were 15 rats in each group. Rats in the WMD model and the two quercetin treatment groups were subjected to right common carotid artery ligation followed by 2 hrs of exposure to 8% O2 to induce periventricular white matter injury. After the operation quercetin was administered daily in the two quercetin treatment groups for 6 weeks. Six weeks later, Morris water maze and open-field tests were carried out to test memory and learning ability as well as behavior and cognition.


RESULTS
From the second day of training, escape latency in the Morris water maze test was more prolonged in the WMD model group than in the control group (P<0.01). The escape latency in the two quercetin treatment groups was shortened significantly compared with the WMD model group (P<0.05). The WMD model group crossed the original platform fewer times compared with the control and quercetin treatment groups (P<0.05). The open-field test indicated that the number of rearings increased and time spent in the centre was extended in the WMD model group compared with the control group. Compared with the WMD model group, the number of rearings was significantly reduced (P<0.05) and time spent in the centre was significantly shortened in the quercetin treatment groups (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Quercetin treatment can improve memory and learning ability as well as cognitive ability in neonates with WMD, suggesting that quercetin protects against WMD resulting from hypoxia-ischemia.
College of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
Jing-Jing
JJ
Huang
Xuan
X
Liu
Xing-Qi
XQ
Wang
Li-Hua
LH
Yang
Da-Shi
DS
Qi
Rui-Qin
RQ
Yao
D000818:Animals; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D011794:Quercetin