Phytoestrogen α-Zearalanol Improves Memory Impairment and Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Ovariectomized Mice. (20th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Yilong; Jiang, Aimei; Yang, Hongju; Chen, Huicheng; Wang, Yanmei
• Other Names: Yoshiyama Yasumasa Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: TheScientificWorldjournal. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-07-20
• Subjects: Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/862019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2356-6140

Abstract

Abstract : Estrogen is known to provide robust protection of memory in postmenopausal women, but the fact that estrogen may increase the incidence of uterine and breast tumors has undoubtedly limited the clinical use of estrogen. In the present study, the effect of α -zearalanol ( α -ZAL), a plant-derived phytoestrogen with low side-effect on uterine and breast, on memory has been evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) mice when using 17 β -estradiol (17 β -E2) as an estrogen positive control. Our findings demonstrated that OVX resulted in impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced numbers of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, while 17 β -E2 or α -ZAL treatment significantly improved memory performance and restored hippocampal neurogenesis. We also found the reduction of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and TrkB expression in OVX mice, which were ameliorated by 17 β -E2 or α -ZAL supplementation. These results indicated that α -ZAL may improve memory impairments induced by OVX and modulate the expression of BDNF-TrkB benefit to neurogenesis which may be involved in the memory protection from α -ZAL, in a manner similar to that of 17 β -E2. The present findings suggested that α -ZAL may be a plausible substitute of 17 β -E2 in improving memory in postmenopausal women.