The effect of probiotics mixture on learning and spatial memory in kindled rats

Background: Repeated seizure attacks lead to extensive neuronal damage and cognitive impairment such as memory loss and learning. Probiotics are shown to have some protective actions against neurological disorders. The present study aimed to examine the effect of probiotics on learning, memory and the nitric oxide level in kindled rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, kindled with penthylenetetrazole (PTZ), kindled and valproic acid (VPA), kindled after probiotic treatment (probiotic + PTZ), and kindled before probiotic treatment (PTZ + probiotic). The animals were treated by a mixture of probiotics for 4 weeks. Chemical kindling was induced by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (35 mg/kg) every 48 hours for 24 days. The learning and spatial memory were evaluated by the Morris water maze. The serum nitric oxide level was assessed by the Miranda method. Results: No significant difference was observed between the control and VPA groups in terms of memory, learning and serum levels of nitric oxide. Learning (P<0.001) and spatial memory (P<0.05) phenomena were improved in the probiotic supplemented groups compared to the PTZ group. Also, serum nitric oxide levels were reduced in the probiotic supplemented groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation reduces the level of nitric oxide and improves the learning and memory process

Does Severity of Alzheimer's Disease Contribute to Its Responsiveness to Modifying Gut Microbiota? A Double Blind Clinical Trial

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with cognitive dysfunction. Evidence indicates that gut microbiota is altered in the AD and, hence, modifying the gut flora may affect the disease. In the previous clinical research we evaluated the effect of a probiotic combination on the cognitive abilities of AD patients. Since, in addition to pathological disorders, the AD is associated with changes in oxidant/antioxidant and inflammatory/anti-inflammatory biomarkers, the present work was designed to evaluate responsiveness of the inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers to the probiotic treatment. The control (CON) and probiotic (PRO) AD patients were treated for 12 weeks by the placebo and probiotic supplementation, respectively. The patients were cognitively assessed by Test Your Memory (TYM = 50 scores). Also serum concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2′ -deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-10) were measured. The cognitive test and the serum biomarkers were assessed pre- and post-treatment. According to TYM test 83.5% of the patients showed severe AD. The CON (12.86% ± 8.33) and PRO (−9.35% ± 16.83) groups not differently scored the cognitive test. Not pronounced change percent was found in the serum level of TNF-α (1.67% ± 1.33 vs. −0.15% ± 0.27), IL-6 (0.35% ± 0.17 vs. 2.18% ± 0.15), IL-10 (0.05% ± 0.10 vs. −0.70% ± 0.73), TAC (0.07% ± 0.07 and −0.06% ± 0.03), GSH (0.08% ± 0.05 and 0.04% ± 0.03) NO (0.11% ± 0.06 and 0.05% ± 0.09), MDA (−0.11% ± 0.03 and −0.17% ± 0.03), 8-OHdG (43.25% ± 3.01 and 42.70% ± 3.27) in the CON and PRO groups, respectively. We concluded that the cognitive and biochemical indications in the patients with severe AD are insensitive to the probiotic supplementation. Therefore, in addition to formulation and dosage of probiotic bacteria, severity of disease and time of administration deeply affects results of treatment

Effect of Pentylenetetrazol on Morphine State-Dependent Memory in Rat

Abstract Background: Learning and memory are among the higher functions of the brain. State-dependent memory (STM) is a type of memory in which the recall of a learned behavior is happend only in the same sensory and physiologic condition in which the behavior is encoded. The STM is seen with some drugs, e.g. the morphine. The pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) is a durg which is used for the induction of seizure in experimental models. Some studies have been revealed different effects of the PTZ on brain higher function (learning, memory …). The aim of present study was to explore the effect of PTZ on morphine-induced STM. Materials and Methods: In this study, male adult Wistar rats (190-220 g) were used. Animals in 3 groups (n=8) during 3 sessions (learning/memory, STM and interaction) were studied. During 48 hour (training and test) the learning and memory of animals were studied in inhibitory avoidance apparatus. The step-through latency in the test day was used as a criterion for memory. Post-training injection of saline or morphine (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/kg-ip) in different groups was carried out. In addition, the pre-test injection of morphine at the same doses was made to study the STM. Moreover, the interaction of pre-test single-dose PTZ (60 mg/kg-ip) on STM was studied. The locomotion of the animals was measured using the open field. Results: The post-training injection of morphine (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mg/kg-ip) impaired the inhibitory memory of rats compared to control group (p<0.001). The post-training and pre-test injections of the same dose of morphine (7.5 mg/kg-ip) reversed the impaired memory compared to morphine (2.5 and 5 mg/kg-ip), (p<0.001). The pre-test PTZ (60 mg/kg-ip) maintained the morphine (7.5 mg/kg-ip) STM (p<0.001). Conclusion: The present study revealed that the post-training ip injection of different doses of morphine results in the impairment of inhibitory avoidance memory in rat. In addition, the pre-test injection of the same doses of morphine reverses the impaired memory. This process is called STM. Consequently, the pre-test injection of PTZ maintains the morphine STM

Effects of Ethanol Preconditioning on Pentylenetetrazole-induced Memory Impairment and Expression of NMDA Receptor NR1 Subunit mRNA in Rat

Abstract Background: Neuronal damage following seizures and epilepsy is one of the main causes of disabilities and mortality worldwide. In recent years, preconditioning has been introduced as a novel strategy for the prevention of brain damage. Preconditioning is a phenomenon in which a minor noxious stimulus protects from a subsequent more severe insult. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of ethanol (Eth) preconditioning on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced impairment memory in the inhibitory avoidance model. Material and Methods: This study was carried out on 45 adult male Wistar rats (180-200 g). Animals were assigned into five groups: Control, Eth 0.25, Eth 0.5, PTZ and Eth (0.5) +PTZ (n=9, for all groups). Eth-preconditioning was induced 6 days before the injection of PTZ. The animals were tested in a single trial step-through inhibitory test in two sessions (train and test). Then locomotor activity of rats was recorded in the open-field apparatus and NR1 mRNA expression in the hippocampus was measured by real-time PCR technique. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed that the Ethanol preconditioning did not impair inhibitory memory. Further, post-test analyses showed that Ethanol preconditioning significantly prevented from PTZ-induced memory impairment, and increased NR1 subunit mRNA expression in PTZ-induced memory impairment group. In addition, one-way ANOVA for the locomotor activity showed no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Our results showed that a pre-conditioning treatment with Ethanol (0.5g/kg/day), 6 days before PTZ-induced memory impairment may provide a kind of neuroprotection in rats

XML The effect of probiotics mixture on learning and spatial memory in kindled rats

Background: Repeated seizure attacks lead to extensive neuronal damage and cognitive impairment such as memory loss and learning. Probiotics are shown to have some protective actions against neurological disorders. The present study aimed to examine the effect of probiotics on learning, memory and the nitric oxide level in kindled rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, kindled with penthylenetetrazole (PTZ), kindled and valproic acid (VPA), kindled after probiotic treatment (probiotic + PTZ), and kindled before probiotic treatment (PTZ + probiotic). The animals were treated by a mixture of probiotics for 4 weeks. Chemical kindling was induced by intraperitoneal injection of PTZ (35 mg/kg) every 48 hours for 24 days. The learning and spatial memory were evaluated by the Morris water maze. The serum nitric oxide level was assessed by the Miranda method. Results: No significant difference was observed between the control and VPA groups in terms of memory, learning and serum levels of nitric oxide. Learning (P<0.001) and spatial memory (P<0.05) phenomena were improved in the probiotic supplemented groups compared to the PTZ group. Also, serum nitric oxide levels were reduced in the probiotic supplemented groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation reduces the level of nitric oxide and improves the learning and memory process

The Effect of Probiotic Supplementations on Cognitive Function in Patients with Primary and Secondary Alzheimer

Abstract Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a most common neurodegenerative disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotic on cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer disease. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted among 48 AD patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=23 in control group and n=25 in probiotic group) treating with capsules 500mg containing maltodextrine (control group) and probiotic supplementation (probiotic group) for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and TYM test score was recorded in all subjects before and after treatment. Results: After 12 weeks intervention, compared with the control group, the probiotic treated, patients with mild degree of Alzheimer disease showed an improvement in the MMSE, TYM score (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our current study demonstrated that probiotic consumption for 12 weeks positively affects cognitive function in mild degree of AD