title: Effects of genistein on cognitive dysfunction and hippocampal synaptic plasticity impairment in an ovariectomized rat kainic acid model of seizure.
abstract: The major objective of this study was to investigate the probable effects of genistein (one of the most important soy phytoestrogens-SPEs) on seizure-induced cognitive dysfunction, hippocampal early long-term potentiation (E-LTP) impairment and morphological damage to CA1 neurons in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Three weeks after ovariectomy, cannulae were implanted over the left lateral ventricle. After a 7-day recovery period, animals were injected by genistein (0.5 or 5mg/kg) or vehicle during four consecutive days, each 24h. One h after the last treatment, kainic acid (KA) or vehicle was perfused into the left lateral ventricle to induce generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Finally, 7 days later, spatial learning and memory of animals were examined using the Morris water maze (MWM) task, hippocampal E-LTP was assessed using in-vivo field potential recordings and the morphology of hippocampal CA1 area was examined using Fluoro-Jade C staining. KA-induced generalized seizures resulted in spatial learning and memory impairment, E-LTP deficit and CA1 cell injury. Seizure-induced abnormalities improved partially only by the lower dose of genistein (0.5mg/kg). However, genistein at the higher dose (5mg/kg) did not have any beneficial effects. Also, genistein did not affect seizure activity. It is concluded that genistein may have partially preventive effects against seizure-induced cognitive impairment in OVX rats. Also, it seems that such effects of genistein are correlated with its beneficial effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and morphology.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khodamoradi
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadi-Shekaari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esmaeili-Mahani
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Khadije
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esmaeilpour
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: vsheibani2@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sheibani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019833:Genistein; D007608:Kainic Acid
keywords: Genistein; Long-term potentiation; Neurodegeneration; Seizure; Spatial memory