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Published on: March 23, 2011
The effect of hippocampal NR2B-containing NMDA receptors on chronic cognitive dysfunction in rats with temporal lobe
Xiaoqing Luo1, Cheng Li1, Xiaoli Yu1
1Department of Electrophysiology, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.100 of Hong Kong Road, Jiang 'an District, Wuhan, 430016, China.
Background:
We have previously reported that hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) was suppressed in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) rats. The N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptors containing 2B subunit (NR2B-NMDARs) are indispensable to induce the LTP of hippocampus. However, it is still unknown whether the NR2B-NMDARs are implied with the cognitive dysfunction in TLE rats.
Methods:
The TLE model was lithium chloride-pilocarpine (li-pilo) model. Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the cognitive function of epileptic rats. Expression of hippocampal NR2B-NMDAs was evaluated by western blotting. Stereotactic injection of NMDA, an agonist of NR2B-NMDARs, into the hippocampus of TLE rats was used to investigate the role of NR2B-NMDARs on cognitive dysfunction.
Results:
Cognitive function TLE rats was significantly reduced compared with controls in the Morris water maze test (P < 0.05). Western blotting data showed the down-expression of hippocampal NR2B-NMDARs and p-NR2B in TLE rats compared with the control (P < 0.05). In addition, hippocampal stereolocalization of NMDA injection improved partially the learning and memory in TLE rats (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Down-expression and low activity of hippocampal NR2B-NMDARs may be implied with chronic cognitive dysfunction in TLE rats.
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