Figure 6. AChE activity, mAChR1, phosphorylated CREB, and BDNF protein and gene expression as possible mechanisms of PNE action.

(A) AChE activity in the hippocampus (n = 7). (B) Phosphorylated CREB and BDNF levels in the hippocampus determined by Western blotting (n = 7). (C) Quantification of phosphorylated CREB/CREB intensity. (D) Quantification of BDNF/β-actin intensity. (E) Alterations in the expression of CREB1, mAChR1, BDNF, CBP and iNOS determined by real time-PCR (n = 6). Gene expression was normalized to that of β-actin. Data are expressed as means ± SD. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001, compared with the naïve group; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 compared with the control group. PNE; pine needle extract, THA; tacrine.