[Effects of tanshinone IIA on the expressions of caspase-3, Akt and NF-κB in the brains of rat models of Alzheimer's disease].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) on the expressions of serine/threonine kinase Akt, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and caspase-3 in the brain tissues of rat models of Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups (n=10 per group): Sham group, AD group, Tan IIA treatment group. The models of AD were established by injecting β-amyloid (Aβ) into the hippocampus of rats. The location and expression level of Aβ1-16; was observed by immunofluorescence, the expression level of caspase-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression levels of Akt and NF-κB were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.


RESULTS
There was no Aβ1-16; detected in the control group, and the difference in the expression level of Aβ1-16; between AD group and Tan IIA treatment group was not significant statistically (P>0.05); The expression of Akt in AD group was lower than that in the control group and the Tan IIA treatment group, and the difference between AD group and the other two groups was of statistical significance (P<0.05). Conversely, compared with Tan IIA treatment group and sham group, the AD group was significantly higher in the expression levels of NF-κB and caspase-3 (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Tan IIA can up-regulate the expression of Akt and inhibit the production of NF-κB and caspase-3 in the model rats with AD.
Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Puyuan
P
Wen
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Hao
H
Luo
Medical Research Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Li
L
Zhou
Department of Neurology, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Zhi
Z
Song
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Wenwen
W
Li
Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Xiangya Medical School, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Jun
J
Zhou
D045784:Abietanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D045784:Abietanes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C021751:tanshinone; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D053148:Caspase 3