Berberine attenuates cognitive deficits via improving NGF signaling in AD mice

ObjectiveTo investigate the change of nerve growth factor(NGF) signaling and mechanisms of berberine on learning and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease(AD) mice.MethodsWe adopted APP/PS1 mice as AD animal model; we used Y maze to measure learning and memory function and Western blot to investigate the protein expression levels.ResultsCompared with the control mice(77.57±11.81),the APP/PS1 mice exhibited reduced spontaneous alternation behavior(55.71±12.33)(P<0.01).Berberine(30 mg/kg) attenuate the impairment of spontaneous alternation behavior(70.93±15.99)(P<0.01).The expression levels of NGF,tyrosine kinases(TrkA),phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases(p-ERK),and phosphorylated cAMP-response element binding protein(p-CREB) in the hippocampus were lower in APP/PS1 mice compared to those of the control mice(P<0.05),but were higher in the berberine(30 mg/kg) treated mice compared to those of the APP/PS1 mice(P<0.05).ConclusionBerberine attenuates learning and memory impairments in APP/PS1 mice,possibly through the NGF signaling pathway.