title: Hyperbaric Oxygen Pretreatment Improves Cognition and Reduces Hippocampal Damage Via p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in a Rat Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) pretreatment on cognitive decline and neuronal damage in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were divided into three groups: normal saline (NS), AD, and HBO+AD. In the AD group, amyloid β peptide (Aβ)₁₋₄₀ was injected into the hippocampal CA1 region of the brain. NS rats received NS injection. In the HBO+AD group, rats received 5 days of daily HBO therapy following Aβ₁₋₄₀ injection. Learning and memory capabilities were examined using the Morris water maze task. Neuronal damage and astrocyte activation were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Dendritic spine density was determined by Golgi-Cox staining. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-10 production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neuron apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling. Protein expression was examined by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Learning and memory dysfunction was ameliorated in the HBO+AD group, as shown by significantly lower swimming distances and escape latency, compared to the AD group. Lower rates of neuronal damage, astrocyte activation, dendritic spine loss, and hippocampal neuron apoptosis were seen in the HBO+AD than in the AD group. A lower rate of hippocampal p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation was observed in the HBO+AD than in the AD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBO pretreatment improves cognition and reduces hippocampal damage via p38 MAPK in AD rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Baisong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yongying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zixin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China. songxingrong510623@163.com.
authors.forename: Xingrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); D016753:Interleukin-10; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Hyperbaric oxygen; TNF-α; astrocytes; cognitive dysfunction; p38 MAPK