丰富环境对慢性脑低灌注大鼠皮质激素和皮质激素受体的影响.docVIP

  An enriched environment elevates corticosteroid receptor levels in the hippocampus and restores cognitive function in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion# 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 ZHANG Lei, ZHANG Junjian, SUN Huimin, ZHU Hong, LIU Hui, YANG Ying** (Department of Neurology and Neuropsychological Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Donghu Road 169#, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China.) Abstract: An enriched environment (EE) is beneficial for modifying certain behaviors, particularly in tasks involving complex cognitive functions. In models of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), the ability of an EE to stimulate cognitive recovery depends on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. The mechanisms that underlie this observation, however, have not been adequately studied. Corticosteroid receptors play an important role in cognitive function. Here we investigated the effects of CCH and an EE on serum corticosteroid concentrations and on levels of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the rat hippocampus. Rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups that received either permanent bilateral ligation of the common carotid arteries or sham surgery. These procedures were followed by 4 weeks of either an EE or standard housing. After the environmental treatment, the spatial learning and memory abilities of these animals were examined using the Morris water maze. In addition, the levels of MR and GR proteins in the hippocampus were determined. We found that CCH impaired the spatial cognitive function of rats and that exposure to an EE reversed these spatial cognitive deficits. CCH also reduced the amount of MR and GR proteins in the hippocampus, but an EE often restored these levels. Our results demonstrate that EE exposure restores cognitive impairments induced by CCH and up-regulates MR and GR expression. As such, MR and GR may contribute to the beneficial effects of an EE