Enriched environment ameliorates learning and memory deficits in hepatic encephalopathy mice by restoration of the structure of dendrites and dendritic spines

Meiying Chen; Yuxin Jiang; Xueling Li; Jiong Li; Chunyi Tu; Huijie Zhang; Xiaobing Gong; Guangyin Yu; Guoqing Guo; Jifeng Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148264

Enriched environment ameliorates learning and memory deficits in hepatic encephalopathy mice by restoration of the structure of dendrites and dendritic spines

Brain Res. 2023 Apr 1:1804:148264. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148264. Epub 2023 Jan 23.

Authors

Meiying Chen¹, Yuxin Jiang¹, Xueling Li¹, Jiong Li¹, Chunyi Tu², Huijie Zhang², Xiaobing Gong³, Guangyin Yu⁴, Guoqing Guo⁵, Jifeng Zhang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China.
² Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China; Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China.
³ Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China.
⁴ Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: yugy6@jnu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: tgqguo@jnu.edu.cn.
⁶ Department of Anatomy, Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: tzjf_jennifer@jnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36702182
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148264

Abstract

Cognitive impairment is one of the most common symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, there is a lack of easily implementable rehabilitation strategies. As an easy-to-implement strategy, numerous studies suggest that enriched environment (EE) can be beneficial for cognitive function. However, the effects of EE on learning and memory, as well as dendritic spines plasticity in HE is still unclear. Accordingly, in the present study, we evaluated the effects of EE on the behavior and dendritic spine morphology in an animal model of HE. Our results showed that HE mice have no movement disorder and anxiety, but they exhibit spatial learning and memory dysfunction. Further analysis revealed that the complexity of the dendrites and the maturity of the dendritic spines are reduced in the hippocampus of HE mice. After 4 weeks of housekeeping in EE, dendritic complexity, and dendritic spine maturity, as well as the spatial learning and memory function of HE mice were restored. In conclusion, exposure to EE can positively influence dendritic spines plasticity in the hippocampus and thereby elicit its beneficial effects on cognitive functions in HE.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Dendritic spine; Enriched environment; Hepatic encephalopathy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Dendrites
Dendritic Spines*
Hepatic Encephalopathy*
Hippocampus
Memory Disorders
Mice
Spatial Learning