Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism
Open Access

Abstract

Alzheimerâ�?�?s disease (AD) rat model can be reproduced via intrahippocampal (IH) administration of streptozotocin (STZ) in the ratâ�?�?s brain. The hippocampus holds a large amount of insulin receptors (IRs) which are very sensitive to STZ. IRsâ�?�? exposure to STZ prompted memory impairment and production of amyloid-beta plaques related to AD pathogenesis. The present study is conducted to investigate the effects of IH-STZ administration on the progression of memory impairment and formation of amyloid �?² (A�?²) at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of STZ-treatment. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats (350â�?�?450 g) were divided into groups of control (no treatment), sham-operated (received PBS) and IH-STZ treated (G3w, G6w and G12w). STZ (3 mg/ kg; 5 �?µl) was administered bilaterally as a single injection into the dorsal hippocampus of the rats. The memory impairment was studied a week before decapitation using Morris water maze test. The rats were sacrificed at week 3, 6 and 12 after STZ administration and presence of A�?² plaques were studied using the immunohistochemistry. All IH-STZ rats showed significant results in escape latency, total distance travelled and swimming speed (p<0.05) when compared to sham indicating memory impairment. In conclusion, STZ when injected intrahippocampally, developed memory impairment as early as two weeks after STZ treatment in the rats. gurmeet9952@puncakalam.uitm.edu.my

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