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. 2008 Oct 3;24(5):305. doi: 10.1007/s12264-008-0324-y

Minocycline attenuates cognitive impairment and restrains oxidative stress in the hippocampus of rats with chronic cerebral hypoperfusion

美满霉素改善血맜性痴呆大鼠认知功能损伤并抑制氧化应激

Zhi-You Cai 1, Yong Yan 1,✉, Shan-Quan Sun 2, Jun Zhang 3, Liang-Guo HUANG 3, Ning Yan 1, Fang Wu 1, Jie-Ying Li 1
PMCID: PMC5552530  PMID: 18839024

Abstract

Objective

Nitric oxide (NO) was speculated to play an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. Minocycline, a tetracycline derivative, reduced inflammation and protected against cerebral ischemia. To study the neuroprotection mechanism of minocycline for vascular dementia, the influences of minocycline on expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were observed in the brains of Wistar rats.

Methods

The vascular dementia rat model was established by permanent bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO). Wistar rats were divideded into 3 groups randomly: sham-operation group (S group), vascular dementia model group (M group), and minocycline treatment group (MT group). The behaviour was tested with Morris water maze and open-field task. Expressions of iNOS and eNOS were measured by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The optical density value was measured by imaging analysis. Percentage of positive cells with iNOS and eNOS expression was analyzed with optical microscope.

Results

Minocycline attenuated cognitive impairment. Inducible NOS was significantly down-regulated in MT group, compared with that in M group (P < 0.01), while eNOS was significantly up-regulated, compared with that in M group (P < 0.01). The expressions of iNOS and eNOS in M and MT groups were higher than those in S group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Minocycline can down-regulate the expression of iNOS and up-regulate the expression of eNOS in vascular dementia, which restrains apoptosis and oxidative stress to protect neural function.

Keywords: vascular dementia, minocycline, nitric oxide synthase

References

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