title: Effects of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural extracted from Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch on the expression of signaling molecules relevant to learning and memory among hippocampal neurons exposed to high concentration of corticosterone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), an extract of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, on several down-regulated signaling molecules involved in learning and memory in hippocampal neurons.
  
  
  METHODS
  After cultured for 7 days, primary hippocampal neurons were divided into 5 groups: normal, corticosterone model, RU38486, 5-HMF, and donepezil group. Neuron survival rates were calculated 24 h later using SYTO13-PI double-fluorescence staining and an 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. β-galactosidase activity was also assayed. Protein expressed by the glucocorticoid receptor (GCR), brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B (NR2B), as well as phosphorylationcyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (p-CREB), phosphorylation-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and phosphorylation-synapsin (p-synapsin) were quantified with Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hippocampal neuron survival rates and the above-mentioned proteins were dramatically decreased (P<0.05), β-galactosidase activity was significantly increased in the model group. but the effect was reversed by 5-HMF, RU38486, and to a lesser extent by donepezil (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  5-HMF extracts from the Chinese herb Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch could protect hippocampal neurons from glucocorticoid injury and from down-regulated signaling molecules in the GCR-BDNF-NR2B-p-ERK-p-CREB-p-synapsin signal transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
authors.forename: Li-Na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Guo-Qin
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Xue-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhang-Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Cui-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D032267:Rehmannia / Q000737:chemistry*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C008046:5-hydroxymethylfurfural; D005662:Furaldehyde; D003345:Corticosterone