NADPH oxidase-derived production of reactive oxygen species is involved in learning and memory impairments in 16-month-old female rats

  • Authors:
    • Hongwei Kan
    • Wen Hu
    • Yuchan Wang
    • Wangyang Wu
    • Yanyan Yin
    • Yan Liang
    • Chunyan Wang
    • Dake Huang
    • Weizu Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 8, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3894
  • Pages: 4546-4553
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Abstract

Women undergoing the natural menopause can experience progressive cognitive dysfunction, particularly in the form of memory impairment. However, the mechanisms underlying memory impairments in the menopause remain to be elucidated. There is increasing evidence that oxidative damage caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production may correlate with age‑associated cognitive impairment. The nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) family is important in the generation of ROS in the brain. It has been hypothesized that the accumulation of ROS, derived from NOX, may be involved in menopause‑associated learning and memory impairments. The present study investigated whether NOX‑derived ROS generation affected the learning and memory ability in 3‑month and 16‑month‑old female rats. The results of a morris water maze assessment revealed that there were significant learning and memory impairments in the 16‑month‑old female rats. Furthermore, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), level of malondialdehyde (MDA), production of ROS and expression levels of NOX2, p47phox, Ras‑related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) and protein kinase C α (PKCα) were investigated in the cortex and hippocampus of 3‑month and 16‑month old female rats. The results demonstrated that the activity of SOD was significantly decreased, whereas the levels of MDA, production of ROS and expression levels of NOX2, p47phox, RAC1 and PKCα were significantly increased in the 16‑month old female rats. These results suggested that NOX‑mediated oxidative stress may be important in menopause‑associated learning and memory impairments.
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September-2015
Volume 12 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Kan H, Hu W, Wang Y, Wu W, Yin Y, Liang Y, Wang C, Huang D and Li W: NADPH oxidase-derived production of reactive oxygen species is involved in learning and memory impairments in 16-month-old female rats. Mol Med Rep 12: 4546-4553, 2015.
APA
Kan, H., Hu, W., Wang, Y., Wu, W., Yin, Y., Liang, Y. ... Li, W. (2015). NADPH oxidase-derived production of reactive oxygen species is involved in learning and memory impairments in 16-month-old female rats. Molecular Medicine Reports, 12, 4546-4553. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3894
MLA
Kan, H., Hu, W., Wang, Y., Wu, W., Yin, Y., Liang, Y., Wang, C., Huang, D., Li, W."NADPH oxidase-derived production of reactive oxygen species is involved in learning and memory impairments in 16-month-old female rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 12.3 (2015): 4546-4553.
Chicago
Kan, H., Hu, W., Wang, Y., Wu, W., Yin, Y., Liang, Y., Wang, C., Huang, D., Li, W."NADPH oxidase-derived production of reactive oxygen species is involved in learning and memory impairments in 16-month-old female rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 12, no. 3 (2015): 4546-4553. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.3894