(p-ClPhSe)2 modulates hippocampal BDNF/TrkB signaling and reverses memory impairment induced by diabetes in mice

• Published in: Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry Vol. 94; p. 109660
• Main Authors: Zborowski, Vanessa A., Heck, Suélen O., Sari, Marcel H.M., Bastos, Nícolas K., Neto, José S.S., Nogueira, Cristina W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Inc 30.08.2019
• Subjects: Animals; BDNF; Behavior Rating Scale - statistics & numerical data; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism; Cell Count - statistics & numerical data; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein - metabolism; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - metabolism; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fluoresceins - metabolism; Hippocampus - metabolism; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Memory; Memory Disorders - complications; Memory Disorders - prevention & control; Mice; Organoselenium; Organoselenium Compounds - pharmacology; Phosphorylation; Receptor, trkB - metabolism; Selenium; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Streptozocin; TrkB; TrkB; Selenium; Diabetes; Organoselenium; BDNF; Memory
• ISSN: 0278-5846; 1878-4216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.109660

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia because of insulin resistance and/or insufficient insulin release. The most common diabetic brain complications include cognitive decline and depression. The present study investigated whether the 4–4′-dichlorodiphenyl diselenide (p-ClPhSe)2 is effective against memory impairment induced by diabetes in mice and the role of hippocampal BDNF/TrkB signaling in this effect. Male adult Swiss mice received an injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (200 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce diabetes. The results revealed that STZ injection in mice resulted in resilience (glycemia <200 mg/dl) or diabetes (glycemia ≥200 mg/dl). The vehicle-control group received citrate buffer (5 ml/kg). The animals were subchronically treated with (p-ClPhSe)2 (1 or 5 mg/kg, i.g.) for 7 days. Mice performed a battery of well-validated behavior tests designated to evaluate memory, object recognition (ORT), object location (OLT), and Morris water maze (MWM). The hippocampal protein contents of the BDNF/TrkB pathway were determined in the samples of experimental groups. Fluoro Jade C (FJC) was used for staining degenerating neurons. The STZ administration resulted in memory impairment that was demonstrated in the mouse ORT, OLT, and MWM tests. The molecular findings indicate an increase in hippocampal protein levels of proBDNF and TrKB but a decrease in those of mBDNF and pCREB in diabetic mice. The number of FJC-positive cells was increased in the hippocampus of diabetic mice. (p-ClPhSe)2 at the dose of 5 mg/kg modulated the hippocampal BDNF/TrkB pathway, reduced FJC-positive cells and reversed memory impairment induced by STZ in mice. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of (p-ClPhSe)2 against memory impairment caused by diabetes in mice. (p-ClPhSe)2 modulated the hippocampal BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in diabetic mice. •(p-ClPhSe)2 reversed memory impairment in diabetic mice.•(p-ClPhSe)2 modulated hippocampal BDNF/TrkB pathway in diabetic mice.•(p-ClPhSe)2 elicited a neuroprotective action in the hippocampus of diabetic mice.