Safflower Yellow Improves the Synaptic Structural Plasticity by Ameliorating the Disorder of Glutamate Circulation in Aβ1-42-induced AD Model Rats

Safflower yellow (SY) is the main effective component of Carthamus tinctorius L ., and Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is the single active component with the highest content in SY. SY and HSYA have been shown to have neuroprotective effects in several AD models. In this study, we aimed to clarify whether the effects of SY and HSYA on the learning and memory abilities of Aβ 1-42 -induced AD model rats are related to the enhancement of synaptic structural plasticity in brain tissues and the amelioration of disorder of glutamate circulation. We used rats injected with Aβ 1-42 into the bilateral hippocampus as a model of AD. After treatment with SY and HSYA, the learning and memory abilities of the Aβ 1-42 -induced AD model rats were enhanced, Aβ deposition in the AD model rats was decreased, structural damage to dendritic spines and the loss of synaptic-associated proteins were alleviated, and the disorder of glutamate circulation was ameliorated. The results indicated that SY and HSYA improve synaptic structural plasticity by ameliorating the disorder of glutamate circulation in Aβ 1-42 -induced AD model rats.