Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates both shortterm synaptic functions and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation. In the present study, we investigated the role of BDNF in the spatial reference and working memory in a radial arm maze test. The radial arm maze training resulted in a significant increase in the BDNF mRNA expression in the hippocampus, although the expression in the frontal cortex did not change. When spatial learning was inhibited by treatment with 7-nitroindazole, an inhibitor of brain nitric oxide synthase, the increase in the hippocampal BDNF mRNA did not occur. To clarify the causal relation between BDNF mRNA expression and spatial memory formation, we examined the effects of antisense BDNF treatment on spatial learning and memory. A continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of antisense BDNF oligonucleotide resulted in an impairment of spatial learning, although the sense oligonucleotide had no effect. Treatment with antisense, but not sense, BDNF oligonucleotide was associated with a significant reduction of BDNF mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus. Furthermore, treatment with antisense BDNF oligonucleotide in rats, which had previously acquired spatial memory by an extensive training, impaired both reference and working memory. There were no differences in locomotor activity, food consumption, and body weight between the antisense and sense oligonucleotide-treated rats. These results suggest that BDNF plays an important role not only in the formation, but also in the retention and/or recall, of spatial memory.
Abstract. Prevention or retardation of diabetic nephropathy (DN) includes anti-hypertensive treatment with angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB) on the premises that these drugs have an added protective effect beyond their influence on BP. The present study used a strain of spontaneously hypertensive/NIHcorpulent rats [SHR/NDmc-cp (fat/fat)] as a model of type II DN to unravel the renoprotective effects of anti-hypertensive drugs. Olmesartan (1 or 5 mg/kg per d), an ARB, and hydralazine (5mg/kg per d), an anti-hypertensive drug without effect on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), were given for 20 wk. BP, renal function, glucose and insulin levels, and proteinuria were monitored. Glomerular lesions and kidney pentosidine content were assessed at the end of the study. Olmesartan (1 and 5 mg) significantly reduced BP and kidney pentosidine content and improved histologic renal damage and proteinuria.The changes were dose-dependent. The effect of hydralazine (5 mg) was similar to that of olmesartan (1 mg) but reached statistical significance only for kidney pentosidine content. The similarity of both drugs' effects on kidney damage and proteinuria suggest that renoprotection does not hinge on manipulation of RAS in these rats. By contrast, the inhibition of renal pentosidine formation assessed both by immunohistochemistry and HPLC suggests a critical role of advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation together with hypertension in the genesis of diabetic nephropathy. This view is supported by the correlation found between renal pentosidine content and proteinuria. The unsuspected AGE-lowering effect of hydralazine was further confirmed in vitro and elucidated; it is due to both reactive carbonyl compounds trapping and modifications of the oxidative metabolism. It is concluded that AGE inhibition should be included in the therapeutic strategy of DN.Diabetic nephropathy (DN) increases dramatically worldwide and is now the first cause of end-stage renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy (reviewed in references 1 and 2). Its prevention or retardation has thus become an important issue in biomedical research.Several large clinical trials have recently demonstrated that control of hypertension by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) significantly delayed the onset and progression of DN (3-5). This effect is due to the reduction of BP together with as-yet undefined additional mechanisms. Only studies of adequate experimental models will allow an in-depth exploration of DN pathogenic mechanisms and thus the development of newer therapeutic tools.In the present study, we use a strain of a spontaneously hypertensive/NIH-corpulent rat [SHR/NDmc-cp (fat/fat)] as a model of type 2 DN (6) to unravel the mechanisms of the ARB-induced renoprotection against DN. We demonstrate a dose-dependent, renoprotective effect of olmesartan, which is an ARB associated with the inhibition of advanced glycation en...
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