title: Genistein improves 3-NPA-induced memory impairment in ovariectomized rats: impact of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and acetylcholinesterase modulatory properties.
abstract: Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The pre-motor symptomatic stages of the disease are commonly characterized by cognitive problems including memory loss. 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is a mitochondrial toxin that produces selective lesions in the brain similar to that of HD and was proven to cause memory impairment in rodents. Phytoestrogens have well-established neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects with fewer side effects in comparison to estrogens. This study investigated the potential neuroprotective and memory enhancing effect of genistein (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg), a phytoestrogen, in ovariectomized rats challenged with 3-NPA (20 mg/kg). These potential effects were compared to those of 17β-estradiol (2.5 mg/kg). Systemic administration of 3-NPA for 4 consecutive days impaired locomotor activity, decreased retention latencies in the passive avoidance task, decreased striatal, cortical and hippocampal ATP levels, increased oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions. Pretreatment with genistein and 17β-estradiol attenuated locomotor hypoactivity, increased retention latencies in the passive avoidance task, increased ATP levels, improved the oxidative stress profile, attenuated the increase in AChE activity and decreased the expression of COX-2 and iNOS. Overall, the higher genistein dose (20 mg/kg) was the most effective. In conclusion, this study suggests neuroprotective and memory enhancing effects for genistein in a rat model of HD. These effects might be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cholinesterase inhibitory activities.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Esther T
authors: ET
authors: Menze
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Esmat
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Mariane G
authors: MG
authors: Tadros
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Ashraf B
authors: AB
authors: Abdel-Naim
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors: Amani E
authors: AE
authors: Khalifa
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011422:Propionates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011422:Propionates; D019833:Genistein; D002374:Catalase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D005978:Glutathione; C015392:3-nitropropionic acid