• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2009

Forsythiaside is a polyphenolic constituent of the fruits of Forsythia suspense Vahl which are widely used as anti-inflammatory herbal raw materials in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, the authors assessed the effects of forsythiaside on learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine using a passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tests in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Forsythiaside (10 mg/kg, p.o) administration significantly prevented scopolamine-induced step-through latency reduction in the passive avoidance test and scopolamine-induced increased escape latency in the Morris water maze test (p<0.05). Moreover, in an ex-vivo study, forsythiaside treatment (10 mg/kg, p.o) significantly reduced the increase of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels induced by scopolamine (p<0.05). Taken together, the present study suggests that forsythiaside could be useful for the treatment of cognitive impairment, and that its beneficial effects are mediated, in part, by its antioxidative properties.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.405-410
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• 2013

Codonopsis lanceolata (Campanulaceae) traditionally have been used as a tonic and to treat patients with lung abscesses. Recently, it was proposed that the extract and some compounds isolated from C. lanceolata reversed scopolamine-induced memory and learning deficits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the improvement of cognitive enhancing effect of C. lanceolata by steam and fermentation process in scopolamine-induced memory impairment mice models by passive avoidance test and Morris water maze test. The extract of C. lanceolata or the extract of steamed and fermented C. lanceolata (SFCE) was orally administered to male mice at the doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight. As a result, mice treated with steamed and fermented C. lanceolata extract (SFCE) (300 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) showed shorter escape latencies than those with C. lanceolata extract or the scopolamine-administered group in Morris water maze test. Also, it exerted longer step-through latency time than scopolamine treated group in passive avoidance test. Furthermore, neuroprotective effect of SFCE on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was assessed in HT22 cells. Only SFCE-treated cells showed significant protection at 500 ${\mu}g/ml$. Interestingly, steamed C. lanceolata with fermentation contained more phenolic acid including gallic acid and vanillic acid than original C. lanceolata. Collectively, these results suggest that steam and fermentation process of C. lanceolata increased cognitive enhancing activity related to the memory processes and neuroprotective effect than original C. lanceolata.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.333-338
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• 2011

Black ginseng (BG) has been widely used as herbal treatment for improving physiological function. In order to investigate the neuroprotective action of this herbal medicine, we examined the influence of BG on the learning and memory of rats using the Morris water maze, and we studied the effects of BG on the central cholinergic system and neural nitric oxide synthesis in the hippocampus of rats with neuronal and cognitive impairment. After middle cerebral artery occlusion was applied for 2h, the rats were administered BG (100 or 400 $mgkg^{-1}$, p.o.) daily for 2 weeks, followed by training and performance of the Morris water maze test. The rats with ischemic insults showed impaired learning and memory on the tasks. Treatment with BG produced improvement in the escape latency to find the platform. Further, the BG groups showed a reduced loss of cholinergic immunoreactivity and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d)-positive neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the ISC group. These results demonstrated that BG has a protective effect against ischemia-induced neuronal and cognitive impairment. Our results suggest that BG might be useful for the treatment of vascular dementia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1080-1086
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• 2009

This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gastrodiae Elata Pharmacopuncure at GB20 on motor control and cognitive dysfunction recovery after mild traumatic brain injury in rats. Rats were divided into three groups; (1) no treatment after traumatic brain injury(experiment I), (2) Treatment with NPA after traumatic brain injury(experiment II), (3) Treatment with GEP after traumatic brain injury(experiment III). In our study, we carried out behavioral test(Rotarod, Morris water maze) and immunohistochemistry study of the change BDNF in the hippocampus(pre, $7^{th}$, $14^{th}$ day). In Rotarod test(motor control function) was significantly increased in the experimental group III as compared with experimental group I, II on $7^{th}$(p<0.01) and $14^{th}$ day(p<0.001). In Morris water maze test(cognitive function) was significantly decreased in the experimental group III as compared with experimental group I, II on $14^{th}$ day(p<0.001). In immunohistochemistric response of BDNF in the hippocampus, the experimental group III was more immune response than the other groups on $14^{th}$ day. These results imply that Gastrodiae Elata Pharmacopuncure at GB20 can play a role in facilitating recovery of motor control and cognitive function after mild traumatic brain injury in rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.556-561
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• 2008

ChongMyeong-Tang (CMT) have been used clinically to treat patient with amnesia and dementia. In addition, CMT have been also used for examinee to improve learning ability in Korea. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Gagam-ChongMeong-Tang (GCMT) on cognitive dysfunction recovery after ischemic brain injury in rats. Rats were divided into three groups; (1) normal, (2) commercial diet after ischemic brain injury (control), (3) CMT diet after ischemic brain injury (experiment). In our study, we carried out Morris water maze test for cognitive motor behavior test and immunohistochemistry study through the change BDNF in the hippocampus($7^{th},\;14^{th}\;day$). In Morris water maze test, cognitive motor function recovery was significantly increased in the experiment group as compared with control group on $7^{th}\;and\;14^{th}\;day$ day (p<0.01). In immunohistochemistric response of BDNF in the hippocampus, more immune reaction was investigated in the experiment group as compared with control group on $7^{th}\;and\;14^{th}\;day$. Especially more immune reaction was experimented $14^{th}$ day. These results imply that GCMT can play a role in facilitating recovery of cognitive function after ischemic brain injury in rats.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2017

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in a polymerization reaction in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It has been used in many consumer products, including plastics, polyvinyl chloride, food packaging, dental sealants, and thermal receipts. However, there is little information available on the inhalation toxicity of BPA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine its inhalation toxicity and effects on the estrous cycle, spatial learning, and memory. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 10, 30, and $90mg/m^3$ BPA, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks via whole-body inhalation. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight, hematology, serum chemistry, estrous cycle parameters, performance in the Morris water maze test, and organ weights, as well as gross and histopathological findings, were compared between the control and BPA exposure groups. Statistically significant changes were observed in serum chemistry and organ weights upon exposure to BPA. However, there was no BPA-related toxic effect on the body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, organ weights, estrous cycle, performance in the Morris water maze test, or gross or histopathological lesions in any male or female rats in the BPA exposure groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for BPA in rats is above $90mg/m^3$/6 hr/day, 5 days/week upon 8-week exposure. Furthermore, BPA did not affect the estrous cycle, spatial learning, or memory in rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2022

To investigate effects of cognitive function improvement whether against Taegeuk ginseng on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. All experiments were conducted in three groups: the control group (CTR), the scopolamine 0.4mg/kg (SCP), and the scopolamine (SCP+T) treated with Taegeuk ginseng 100 mg/kg. Taegeuk ginseng 100 mg/kg daily was orally administered for one month and treated with scopolamine was only for 7 consecutive days on the Morris water maze task. 3 weeks after oral administration of Taegeuk ginseng, subjects were performed the Morris water maze test for 8 days and then the open-field exploration test which to assessed for cognitive function improvement. After behavioral testing, subjects were sacrificed and microdissected brains for neurochemical analysis. In the cognitive-behavioral test, long-term administration of Taegeuk ginseng improved spatial navigation learning task compared with the impeded by scopolamine treatment. In neurochemistry, the expression of the synaptic marker PSD95 (postsynaptic density protein 95) was increased in the hippocampus compared to the scopolamine group. Also, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression was significantly increased in the taegeuk ginseng administration group. These data suggested that long-term administration of taegeuk ginseng might improve cognitive-behavioral functions on hippocampal related spatial learning memory, and it was correlated with neurotropic and synaptic reinforcement. In conclusion, treatment with taegeuk ginseng may positive outcome on learning and memory deficit disorders.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 1999

The effects of Hyangbujapalmultang on the enhancement of learning and memory of AD model rats were studied with Morris water maze. Sample group was electrolytically lesioned on nucleus basalis of Meynert(nbM), and then daily treated with the medicine for two months. Control group with nbM lesion, and sham group with the sham operation were treated the vehicle for the same duration. The following results were observed. 1. As the learning trials of Morris water maze were proceeded, sham group showed the escape latency from $54.7{\pm}2.28$ seconds in 1st trial to $13.3{\pm}3.27$ seconds in 7th. The control group showed the escape latency from $58.0{\pm}1.78$ seconds in 1st trial to $51.3{\pm}3.52$ seconds in 7th. The sample group showed the escape latency from $57.0{\pm}2.21$ seconds in 1st trial to $28.4{\pm}4.82$ seconds in 7th. Therefore, these data shows that all three groups were improved in learning capacity as trials were proceeded, but the sample group showed more prominent improvement in learning compared with the control group(p<0.05). 2. In memory retention test of Morris water maze that counts the staying time in the target area during 30 seconds of freely swimming period, sham group stayed for $4.81{\pm}1.15$ seconds, the control group stayed for $1.27\pm}0.78$ seconds, and the sample group stayed for $4.17{\pm}1.47$ seconds. The analysis of the memory retention data shows that the sample group marked more improvement in memory retention compared with the control group, but could not obtained statistically significant result(p<0.05). With the experimental results above, Hyangbujapalmultang can be supposed to have the improving effects on the learning of AD model rats induced by electrolytic lesion of nbM.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.309-317
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• 2009

This study was to investigate the effects of restoring cognition function and neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus according to memory and learning training in rats affected by brain injury. Brain injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats(36 rats) through middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAo). And then experiment groups were randomly divided into three groups; Group I: Brain injury induction(n=12), Group II: the application for treadmill training after brain injury induction(n=12), Group III: the application for memory and learning training after brain injury induction(n=12). Morris water maze acquisition test and retention test were performed to test cognitive function. And the histological examination was also observed through the immunohistochemistric response of BDNF(brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in the hippocampus. For Morris water maze acquisition test, there were significant interactions among the groups with the time(p<.001). The time to find the circular platform in Group III was more shortened than in Group I, II on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th day. For Morris water maze retention test, there were significant differences among the groups(p<.001). The time to dwell on quadrant circular platform in Group III on the 13th day was the longest compared with other groups. And as the result of observing the immunohistochemistric response of BDNF in the hippocampus CA1, the response of immunoreactive positive in Group III on the 7th day increased more than that of Group I, II. These results suggested that the memory and learning training in rats with brain injury has a more significant impact on restoring cognitive function via the changes of neurotropic factor expression and synaptic neuroplasticity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1400-1405
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• 2007

The effect of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid into n-3 fatty acid deficient diet on improvement of loaming related brain function was investigated. On the second day after conception, Sprague Dawley strain dams were subjected to a diet containing either n-3 fatty acid deficient (Def) or n-3 fatty acid deficient + docosahexaenoic acid (Def+DHA). After weaning, male pups were fed on the same diet of their respective dams until adulthood. Motor activity and Morris water maze tests were measured at 10 weeks old. In motor activity test, there were no statistically significant differences in moving time and moving distance between the Def and Def+DHA diet groups. The n-3 fatty acid deficient with DHA (Def+DHA) group exhibited a shorter escape latency, swimming time and swimming distance (P<0.05) compared to the n-3 fatty acid deficient group (Def) but there was no difference in resting time and swimming speed between the experimental diet groups. In memory retention trial, the number of crossing of the platform position (region A) was significantly greater than those of other regions for the Def+DHA group. However, the Def group swam randomly without preference for the provisions platform location, indicating poorer memory retention. From those results, supplementation with DHA into the n-3 fatty acid deficient diet improved the spatial loaming ability in rats as assessed by Morris water maze test.