Effect of troxerutin on synaptic plasticity of hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons in a β-amyloid model of Alzheimer׳s disease: An electrophysiological study

Abstract Alzheimer׳s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. Multiple pathogenetic factors including aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), cholinergic dysfunction and oxidative stress are involved in AD. Aβ, a major constituent of the senile plaques, is a potent neurotoxic peptide and has a pivotal role in cognitive deficit and reduced synaptic plasticity in AD. In the present study we examined the protective effect of troxerutin, as a multipotent bioflavonoid, on Aβ (1–42)-induced impairment of evoked field potential in hippocampal DG neurons. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups including Aβ (42–1), Aβ (1–42), Aβ (1–42) plus troxerutin and Aβ (42–1) plus troxerutin groups. Aβ was injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) into right lateral ventricle and after two weeks the evoked field potential recorded from perforant path-DG synapses to assess paired pulse paradigm and long term potentiation (LTP). Administration of Aβ (1–42) drastically attenuated the LTP of DG neurons, while there was no significant difference in evoked field potentials between Aβ (1–42) plus troxerutin group with respect to Aβ (42–1) group. This study revealed that troxerutin improves the synaptic failure induced by Aβ peptide and can be introduced as a promising multi-potent pharmacological agent in prevention or treatment of AD in the future.