Impairment of cognitive function and reduced hippocampal cholinergic activity in a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia  

作　　者：Chunling Zhao Yan Chen Chunlai Zhang Linya Lā Qian Xu 

机构地区：[1]Department of Physiology, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China [2]Department of Pediatric Surgery, Affifiated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, Sichuan Province, China

出　　处：《Neural Regeneration Research》2011年第17期1301-1305,共5页中国神经再生研究（英文版）

基　　金：a grant from Luzhou Medical College,No.2009

摘　　要：The present study established a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia （CIH） to simulate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. CIH rats were evaluated for cognitive function using the Morris water maze, and neuronal pathology in the hippocampus was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. In addition, hippocampal choline acetyl transferase （CHAT） and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor （nAChR） expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed necrotic hippocampal neurons, decreased ChAT and nAChR expression, as well as cognitive impairment in CIH rats. These results suggest that hippocampal neuronal necrosis and decreased cholinerqic activity may be involved in CIH-induced cognitive impairment in rats.The present study established a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia （CIH） to simulate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. CIH rats were evaluated for cognitive function using the Morris water maze, and neuronal pathology in the hippocampus was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. In addition, hippocampal choline acetyl transferase （CHAT） and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor （nAChR） expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed necrotic hippocampal neurons, decreased ChAT and nAChR expression, as well as cognitive impairment in CIH rats. These results suggest that hippocampal neuronal necrosis and decreased cholinerqic activity may be involved in CIH-induced cognitive impairment in rats.

关 键 词：hypoxia brain memory dysfunction choline acetyl transferase nicotinic acetylcholinereceptor chronic intermittent hypoxia RAT neural regeneration 

分 类 号：Q421[生物学—神经生物学] Q426[生物学—生理学]