Protective effects of icariin on learning and memory deficits induced by aluminium in rats

This study examined the protective effects of icariin （ICA） on the learning and memory deficits in Aluminium （Al） -treated rats and potential mechanisms. The screened, qualified rats were treated with 1. 6 g/L AlCl3 in drinking water for 8 months, and the ability of spatial learning and memory was tested by Morris water maze. Aluminium （Al） administration significantly increased the mean escape latency searching distance in place navigation test, and decreased the searching time in the quadrant once the platform was in space probe test and adjusted searching distance in space probe test, indicative of brain spatial learning and memory deficits. ICA treatment （60, 120 mg/kg, i. g 3 month） significantly protected against Al-induced spatial learning and memory deficits, as evidenced by decreased escape latency and searching distance, and by increased the searching time in the quadrant once the platform was adjusted via searching distance compared with the Al alone group. To examine the mechanisms of the protection, the activities of superoxide dismuase （SOD） and the contents of maloidaldehyde （MDA） in hippocampus were assayed by commercial kits, and the level of Aβ1-40 in hippocampus was examined by immunohistochemistry （IHC）, respectively. ICA treatment significantly increased the activities of SOD, decreased the content of MDA and the level of Aβ1-40 in hippocampus in a dose - dependent manner. In summary, this study demonstrates that ICA is effective in improving the ability of spatial learning and memory of Al-intoxicated rats.

Protective effects of icariin on learning and memory deficits induced by aluminium in rats