Anti-amyloidgenic and neurotrophic effects of tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside on a chronic mitochondrial dysfunction rat model induced by sodium azide

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative brain disorder with complex pathogenesis. Emerging evidence indicates that there is a tight relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and β-amyloid (Aβ) formation. 2,3,5,4′-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG) is one of the main active components extracted from Polygonum multiflorum . The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of TSG on Aβ production and neurotrophins in the brains of rats by using a mitochondrial dysfunction rat model induced by sodium azide (NaN 3 ), an inhibitor of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX). NaN 3 was administered to rats by continuous subcutaneous infusion for 28 days via implanted osmotic minipumps to establish the animal model. TSG was intragastrically administered starting 24 h after the operation. The activity of mitochondrial COX was measured by a biochemical method. The content of Aβ 1-42 was detected by ELISA. The expression of neurotrophic factors was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that NaN 3 infusion for 28 days induced a decrease in mitochondrial COX activity, an increase in Aβ 1-42 content and the expression of amyloidogenic β-amyloid precursor protein (APP), beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and presenilin 1 (PS1), and a decline in the expression of neurotrophins in the hippocampus of rats. Intragastrical administration of TSG elevated mitochondrial COX activity, decreased Aβ 1-42 content and the expression of APP, BACE1 and PS1, and enhanced the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in the hippocampus of NaN 3 -infused rats. These findings suggest that TSG may be beneficial in blocking or slowing the progression of AD by enhancing mitochondrial function, decreasing Aβ production and increasing neurotrophic factors at some extent.