Effects of Flavonoids from Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi Stems and Leaves on Learning and Memory Ability of APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice

Abstract

Introduction: APP/PS1 transgenic mice are established natively AD-like animal model. The present study used this animal model to study the effects of stems and leaves flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SSF) on APP/PS1 transgenic mice learning and memory ability with Morris water maze, jumping platform, dark box and shuttle box test. The results demonstrated that SSF markedly improve the learning and memory ability in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, and the four behavioral tests of Morris water maze, jumping platform, dark box and shuttle box are also suitable methods for evaluating the learning and memory ability of animals. Objective: To study the effects of SSF on the learning and memory ability in APP/PS1 transgenic mice by several behavioral experiment methods. Methods: APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into model group and three doses of SSF treated groups. While, the same period C57BL/6J mice were used as the control group. The APP/PS1 transgenic mice in the drug group were given continuous daily and orally administration of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg SSF for 77 days. On the day 51 of administration, four behavioral experimental methods, including Morris water maze, jumping platform, dark box and shuttle box were supplied to test the learning and memory ability of all mice and continually administered SSF during the test. Results: Compared with the control group, Morris water maze test found that model group mice had a significant longer latency to find the hidden platform, shortened swimming time in the target quadrant, and reduced number of crossing platforms (P<0.05, P<0.01). The detection of jumping platform and dark box showed that the latencies of the model group for jumping off the platform and entering the dark box were significantly shortened, and error times received by electric shocks was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The shuttle box test reported that the number of active avoidance in the model group was significantly decreased, while the times of passive avoidance and non-response were significantly increased (P<0.05, P< 0.01). However, the three doses of SSF markedly shortened or prolonged the latency of APP/PS1 transgenic mice to find the hidden platform, jump off the platform and enter the dark box, as well as reduce the errors times of electric shock (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion: SSF can improve the learning and memory impairment of APP/PS1 mice by different behavioral test.