DPP-4 Inhibitor Improved the Cognitive Function in Diabetic Rats

Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction is a major problem of the international community. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are drugs with hypoglycemic effect widely used in diabetic treatment in clinic. In this article, we studied the effect of the DPP-4 inhibitor saxagliptin on cognitive function in diabetic rats. Firstly, to observe cognitive dysfunction caused by diabetes, we built the diabetic rat model. Subsequently, the effect of diabetes on cognitive function was evaluated by Morris Water Maze Task. Thirdly, the mechanism of the alleviation effect of DPP-4 inhibitor on cognitive dysfunction was investigated. Specifically, (1) the anti-inflammation mechanism was revealed by quantifying the accumulation of the inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the hippocampus area by western blotting and the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) by immunohistochemistry; (2) the anti-tau phosphorylation mechanism was revealed by quantifying phosphorylated tau by western blotting. This work represents the first study demonstrating the alleviation effect of DPP-4 inhibitor on cognitive dysfunction caused by diabetes. Results obtained here could be useful to seeking for a medical solution with high efficacy to the diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction.