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Ginsenoside Rb1 increases synaptophysin and microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNA expression in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons

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Abstract

Ginsenoside Rb1 has been determined to exert diverse neuromodulatory effects including a stimulatory effect on synaptic formation. Synaptophysin and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) are synaptic proteins which play vital roles in neurotransmission regulation and synaptic structural stability. The present data revealed that ginsenoside Rb1 enhanced mRNA expression of synaptic markers, synaptophysin and MAP2, in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Our results newly add synaptophysin and MAP2 to the list of genes of which mRNA expression is modulated by ginsenosides. Our finding contributes further understanding of medical usefulness of ginsenoside Rb1 targeting hippocampal network alteration which is commonly observed in aging and neurodegenerative disorders.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a grant (20081531) from Kyung Hee University in the program year 2009.

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Correspondence to Eunjoo H. Lee.

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Nam, K.N., Jung, WS., Park, JH. et al. Ginsenoside Rb1 increases synaptophysin and microtubule-associated protein 2 mRNA expression in primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. Orient Pharm Exp Med 13, 231–234 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-012-0101-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-012-0101-3

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