MPTP-induced changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory are prevented by memantine through the BDNF-TrkB pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Mild cognitive deficit in early Parkinson's disease (PD) has been widely studied. Here we have examined the effects of memantine in preventing memory deficit in experimental PD models and elucidated some of the underlying mechanisms.

Experimental approaches

I.p. injection of 1-methyl-4- phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydro pyridine (MPTP) in C57BL/6 mice was used to produce models of PD. We used behavioural tasks to test memory. In vitro, we used slices of hippocampus, with electrophysiological, Western blotting, real time PCR, elisa and immunochemical techniques.

Key results

Following MPTP injection, long-term memory was impaired and these changes were prevented by pre-treatment with memantine. In hippocampal slices from MPTP treated mice, long-term poten

SUBMITTER: Zhu G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4403099 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature