Administration of phytoceramide enhances memory and upregulatesthe expression of pCREB and BDNF in hippocampus of mice

Yeonju Lee, Jieun Kim, Soyong Jang, Seikwan Oh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the possible effects of phytoceramide (Pcer) on learning and memory and their underlying mechanisms. Phytoceramide was orally administered to ICR mice for 7 days. Memory performances were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. The expressions of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured with immunoblot. The incorporation of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in hippocampal regions was investigated by using immunohistochemical methods. Treatment of Pcer enhanced cognitive performances in the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the phosphorylated CREB and BDNF were signifi cantly increased on hippocampus in the Pcer-treated mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the number of immunopositive cells to BrdU was signifi cantly increased in the hippocampal dentate gyrus regions after Pcer-treatment for 7 days. These results suggest that Pcer contribute to enhancing memory and BDNF expression and it could be secondary to the elevation of neurogenesis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)229-233
Number of pages5
JournalBiomolecules and Therapeutics
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Memory
  • Neurogenesis
  • Phytoceramide
  • Y-maze

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