title: Catalpol preserves neural function and attenuates the pathology of Alzheimer's disease in mice.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and there currently are no effective treatment strategies available. Catalpol is an iridoid glucoside, and large quantities can be isolated from the genus Rehmannia (Orobanchaceae). The present study assessed whether catalpol had any protective effects against Alzheimer's disease using a murine model. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated enzymes as well as soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 were detected using kits. Thioflavin‑S staining was performed to detect senile plaques and reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess iroquois homeobox protein 3 (IRX3) and obesity‑associated genes, while western blot analysis was used for β‑secretase 1 (BACE1), insulin‑degrading enzyme (IDE) and neprilysin (NEP) detection. The Morris water maze was used to detect the learning ability and spatial memory. The results revealed that catalpol was able to reduce the oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex by regulating the activities and concentration of ROS‑associated enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase, however not malondialdehyde. Catalpol was also identified to be able to reduce the levels of soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the cerebral cortex and thus inhibit the formation of senile plaques. These effects were observed to be regulated by IDE, however not by BACE1 or NEP. It is suggested that catalpol is not capable of directly regulating the expression of IRX3 and obesity‑associated genes. Subsequent to the treatment with catalpol, impairments in learning and memory were also observed to be relieved using the Morris water maze test. The results of the present study indicate that catalpol may be a potential drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jin-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shoukui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhilong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; C501599:Irx3 protein, mouse; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014157:Transcription Factors; C078040:catalpol