title: [Curcumin improves learning and memory function through decreasing hippocampal TNF-α and iNOS levels after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of curcumin on learning and memory function of rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham group, SAH group and curcumin (Cur) therapy group. Experimental SAH rat models were established by injecting autologous blood into the cisterna magna. Neurological deficits of rats were examined at different time points. Spatial learning and memory abilities were tested by Morris water maze test. The hippocampal tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were detected by ELISA. RESULTS Experimental SAH rat models were established successfully. Neurological scores of the SAH rats were significantly lower than those of the sham group. Curcumin therapy obviously improved the neurological deficits of rats compared with the SAH rats. Morris water maze test showed that SAH caused significant cognitive impairment with longer escape latency compared with the sham group. After treatment with curcumin for 4 weeks, the escape latency decreased significantly. The levels of TNF-α and iNOS in the curcumin-treated group were significantly lower than those of the SAH group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SAH can cause learning and memory impairment in rats. Curcumin can recover learning and memory function through down-regulating hippocampal TNF-α and iNOS levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of First Neurosurgery, Puyang Municipal Anyang Area Hospital, Anyang 455000, China.
authors.forename: Zhenwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453100, China. *Corresponding author, E-mail: yueshuangzhu@xxmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shuangzhu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D003474:Curcumin