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Triptolide Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats with Vascular Dementia by Activating the SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway

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Abstract

Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook F has been exploited as a treatment for several diseases due to its neuroprotective, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory effects. Triptolide is one of its key bioactive compounds. Currently, the role of triptolide in cognitive dysfunction remains unclear. Here, the role of triptolide on cognitive dysfunction was investigated using chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced vascular dementia (VD) rat model. SD rats were administrated with Triptolide (5 μg/kg) for 6 weeks after undergoing permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. The results show that triptolide treatment conferred neuroprotective effects in VD rats. Intraperitoneal injection of triptolide attenuated oxidative stress, learning and memory deficits, and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampi. Moreover, triptolide enhanced the expression of SIRT1, PGC-1α, ZO-1, Claudin-5, and decreased the serum levels of NSE and S100B significantly. It also improved CCH-induced learning and memory deficits, and this is attributed to its capacity to promote SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling, confer antioxidant effects, and inhibit neuronal apoptosis. These findings indicate that triptolide may be an effective therapeutic agent for vascular cognitive dysfunction.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81560193), Science and Technology Research Project of Education Department of Jiangxi Province (No. GJJ180019), Science and Technology Research Project of Health and Health committee Department of Jiangxi Province (20195231).

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  1. Peng Yao and Yiling Li contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China

    Peng Yao, Yiling Li, Yujun Yang, Shuchun Yu & Yong Chen

  2. Jiangxi Province Key of Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Nanchang, China

    Shuchun Yu & Yong Chen

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  1. Peng Yao
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  2. Yiling Li
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  3. Yujun Yang
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  4. Shuchun Yu
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Correspondence to Yong Chen.

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Yao, P., Li, Y., Yang, Y. et al. Triptolide Improves Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats with Vascular Dementia by Activating the SIRT1/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway. Neurochem Res 44, 1977–1985 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-019-02831-3

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