Hippocampal alterations in rats submitted to streptozotocin-induced dementia model are prevented by aminoguanidine

J Alzheimers Dis. 2009;17(1):193-202. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2009-1034.

Abstract

Although the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease remains elusive, many possible risk factors and pathological alterations have been used in the elaboration of in vitro and in vivo models of this disease in rodents, including intracerebral infusion of streptozotocin (STZ). Using this model, we evaluated spatial cognitive deficit and neurochemical hippocampal alterations, particularly astroglial protein markers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100B, glutathione content, nitric oxide production, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) S100B. In addition, prevention of these alterations by aminoguanidine administration was evaluated. Results confirm a spatial cognitive deficit and nitrative stress in this dementia model as well as specific astroglial alterations, particularly S100B accumulation in the hippocampus and decreased CSF S100B. The hippocampal astroglial activation occurred independently of the significant alteration in GFAP content. Moreover, all these alterations were completely prevented by aminoguanidine administration, confirming the neuroprotective potential of this compound, but suggesting that nitrative stress and/or glycation may be underlying these alterations. These findings contribute to the understanding of diseases accompanied by cognitive deficits and the STZ-model of dementia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Dementia* / chemically induced
  • Dementia* / pathology
  • Dementia* / prevention & control
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Guanidines / therapeutic use*
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology*
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Nerve Growth Factors / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Streptozocin*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Guanidines
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins
  • S100b protein, rat
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Streptozocin
  • Glutathione
  • pimagedine