title: Schizandrin prevents dexamethasone-induced cognitive deficits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To model glucocorticoid-induced cognitive impairment and evaluate the neuroprotection by schizandrin (Sch) against dexamethasone (Dex)-induced neurotoxicity in vivo and in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cerebral cortical cells from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats (within 24 hours after birth) were cultured for 9 days, and then treated with Dex (10(-4), 10(-5), 10(-6) or 10(-7) mol/L) for 24 h or pretreated with 10(-4) mol/L Dex for 24 h followed by 10, 20, 40, or 80 μmol/L Sch for 48 h. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Immunofluorescence and real-time PCR for MAP2 were performed to confirm the effects of Dex on neurite outgrowth. In vivo, kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups: control [(intragastric (i.g.) vehicle for 42 days]; Dex group I (5 mg/kg · d(-1) Dex i.g. treatment for 28 days followed by i.g. vehicle for 14 days); Dex group II (Dex i.g. for 42 days); Dex + Sch (Dex i.g. for 28 days followed by 5, 15, or 45 mg/kg · d(-1) Sch i.g. for 14 days). Learning and memory were assessed by Morris water maze test. Histological examination was used to assess pathology and apoptosis in neurons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the Dex groups, Sch increased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, improved performance in the Morris water maze and ameliorated the morphological changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sch has neuroprotective effects against insults induced by glucocorticoid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Min-Jing
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Huan-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D034242:Cyclooctanes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D032141:Schisandra
chemical_list: D034242:Cyclooctanes; D017705:Lignans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D003907:Dexamethasone; C011105:schizandrin