Vildagliptin prevents cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

  • Authors:
    • Qing‑Hua Ma
    • Liu‑Fang Jiang
    • Jian‑Liang Mao
    • Wen‑Xin Xu
    • Min Huang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: December 18, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8289
  • Pages: 4113-4119
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Abstract

Diabetes has been identified to be a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Vildagliptin, a novel oral hypoglycemic agent, has been demonstrated to exert protective effects on the pancreas and cardiovascular system. The present study examined the potential protective effects of vildagliptin on neurons in an AD rat model. Treatment with vildagliptin improved memory deficits and decreased neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus. The expression levels of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‑2) were increased, and the expression levels of caspase‑3, Bcl‑2 associated X protein and AD‑associated proteins were decreased in the hippocampus following treatment with vildagliptin. Additionally, the AD model‑induced decrease in phosphorylated (p) protein kinase B (p‑Akt), p‑glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p‑GSK3β), post‑synaptic density 95 and synaptophysin expression was reversed. These results indicate that vildagliptin administration exerts a protective effect against cognitive deficits by reducing tau phosphorylation and increasing the expression of proteins associated with synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. Targeting of the Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway may be a key mechanism in preventing the disease progression of AD.
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March-2018
Volume 17 Issue 3

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

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Spandidos Publications style
Ma QH, Jiang LF, Mao JL, Xu WX and Huang M: Vildagliptin prevents cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Med Rep 17: 4113-4119, 2018
APA
Ma, Q., Jiang, L., Mao, J., Xu, W., & Huang, M. (2018). Vildagliptin prevents cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Molecular Medicine Reports, 17, 4113-4119. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8289
MLA
Ma, Q., Jiang, L., Mao, J., Xu, W., Huang, M."Vildagliptin prevents cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease". Molecular Medicine Reports 17.3 (2018): 4113-4119.
Chicago
Ma, Q., Jiang, L., Mao, J., Xu, W., Huang, M."Vildagliptin prevents cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease". Molecular Medicine Reports 17, no. 3 (2018): 4113-4119. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.8289