Effect of 9 - PAHSA on cognitive dysfunction in diabetic mice and its possible mechanism

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is currently a major global health problem, which is associated with the development of cognitive dysfunction. However, although numerous clinical drugs for hyperglycemia have been used at present, safer and more effective therapeutic intervention strategies for diabetic cognitive impairments are still a huge challenge. Recently, several studies have indicated that a novel class of branched palmitic acid esters of hydroxyl stearic acids (PAHSAs) may have anti-diabetes and anti-inflammatory effects in insulin-resistant mice. Herein, whether the 9-PAHSA that one of the PAHSAs can attenuates DM-associated cognitive impairment in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes has been investigated. Our results showed that 9-PAHSA mildly prevented deficits of spatial working memory in Y-maze test while reversed the preference bias toward novel mice in Social choice test. Furthermore, the effect of REST on cognitive impairment of diabetes was explored for the first time. It was found that the expression of REST in diabetic mice increased, and the expression of target protein BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) was decreased. After administration of 9-PAHSA, the situation was reversed. In summary, we conclude that exogenous supplement of 9-PAHSA can improve DM-related cognitive impairment to some extent, and the protective effect may be associated with decreased REST/NRSF (repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silence factor) and upregulated BDNF expression in frontal cortex.