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Objective: To observe the effect of pregnenolone (PREG) intervention on the cholinergic system function and the synaptic protein 1 (SYP1) expression in different brain regions of aged rats. Method: Twenty-four-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats intraperitoneally injected every other day for one month were divided into blank control group, solvent control group, PREG (0.5 mg/kg) intervention group and PREG (2.0 mg/kg) intervention group. The rats were sacrificed 2 d after the intervention and the corresponding regions of brain tissue were separated and cryopreserved. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression level of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), SYP1, serum PREG and the activity of ChAT and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in different brain regions. In addition, the semiquantitative changes in the expression level of ChAT and SYP1 in frontal lobe and hippocampus were tested by immunohistochemistry. Result: Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis showed that PREG (2.0 mg/kg) administration led to a significant increase of ChAT and SYP1 expressions in frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and hippocampus regions ( p < 0.05). The result of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that PREG (2.0 mg/kg) administration significantly increased ChAT activity and serum PREG levels and caused a decrease in AChE activity ( p < 0.05); while PREG (0.5 mg/kg) only elevated levels of serum PREG. Conclusion: PREG significantly improved the synaptic plasticity of memory-related brain areas of aged rats, significantly increased brain cholinergic activity and thus helps to improve learning and memory in aged rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may have anti‐inflammatory and anticonvulsant effects in addition to its antidepressant effects. So far, the nonantidepressant effects of TCAs and their molecular pharmacological mechanisms remain completely unclear. Chronic inflammation in the brain parenchyma may be related to the pathogenesis and progression of various neurodegenerative diseases. As a common antidepressant and anti‐insomnia drug, doxepin also may be a potential anti‐inflammatory and anticonvulsant drug, so the study on the anti‐inflammatory protective effect of doxepin and its molecular mechanism has become a very important issue in pharmacology and clinical medicine. Further elucidating the anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of doxepin and its molecular mechanism may provide the important theoretical and clinical basis for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disease. This study was designed to understand the glio‐protective mechanism of doxepin against the inflammatory damage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in C6‐glioma cells. We found the treatment of C6‐glioma cells with LPS results in deleterious effects, including the augmentation of inflammatory cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β), and suppresses the Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, our outcomes demonstrated that doxepin was able to suppress these effects induced by LPS, through activation of the phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase‐mediated protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. To sum up, these results highlight the potential role of doxepin against neuroinflammatory‐related disease in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In previous studies, researchers observed that doxepin could improve cognitive processes and has protective effects on the central nervous system. Thus, this study was designed to analyze the effects of doxepin on β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced memory impairment and neuronal toxicity in rat and to explore the underlying mechanism., Materials and Methods: Rats were treated with Aβ1-42 and doxepin was injected to validate its effects on cognitive function. The Morris water maze test was performed to detect memory function. Aβ1-42-treated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line was also used to detect the effects of doxepin and to explore the underlying mechanism. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of PSD-95, synapsin 1, p-AKT and p-mTOR in rats., Results: After treated with 1 mg/kg of doxepin, Aβ1-42-treated rats showed markedly lower escape latency and higher platform-finding strategy score. Low doses of doxepin significantly reversed the effects of Aβ1-42 on the protein expression levels of PSD-95, synapsin 1, p-AKT and p-mTOR in rats. In vitro experiment showed the consistent results. Besides, PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) treatment could markedly reversed the effects of doxepin on Aβ1-42-treated SH-SY5Y cells., Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that doxepin could protect against the Aβ1-42-induced memory impairment in rats. The protective effect of doxepin was associated with the enhancement of PSD-95 and synapsin 1 expression via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Neurodegenerative disorders are chronic and progressive disease. Exendin-4 (Ex-4) can function as a neuroprotective agent and has novel therapeutic ability for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect of Ex-4 on PC12 cell apoptosis induced by Aβ25-35 in molecular level. The apoptosis of PC12 cells was detected by MTT assay, TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. The expression of ERS (endoplasmic reticulum stress, ERS) related proteins such as CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase-12 were determined by Western blot and cell immunocytochemistry. Results showed the apoptotic rate of PC12 cells significantly increased after Aβ25-35 addition, which was remarkably reduced after Ex-4 treatment. The expression of CHOP, GRP78 and Caspase-12 were significantly upregulated, and then remarkably reduced after Ex-4 treatment, while in the presence of Exendin9-39, the effect of Ex-4 was reversed. In conclusion, endoplasmic reticulum stress might be involved in the apoptosis process of PC12 cell induced by Aβ25-35 and Ex-4 might provide a potential strategy for the treatment and prevention of cell apoptosis-associated disorders.