Efeitos da VD3 sobre a memória e sobre o sistema purinérgico e colinérgico em um modelo de demência esporádica do tipo Alzheimer em ratos

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered the main cause of dementia in elderly people worldwide. This disease affects the central nervous system (CNS), especially the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, areas that are responsible for the processes of learning and memory, for this the search for new therapies to treat this condition is constant. Studies indicate that Vitamin D3 (VD3) may be involved in the functions of neurotransmission, neuroprotection and neuroimmunomodulation in different brain processes, in addition to being involved in the homeostasis of calcium (Ca2+). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of VD3 on memory and in the activity of enzymes AChE, NTPDase and 5'-Nucleotidase in the hippocampus of rats submitted to a model of sporadic dementia of the Alzheimer type (DETA) in rats. For this, a total of 40 male Wistar rats were used, weighing between 350-400g were divided into 8 groups: control, Vitamin D3 12.5 μg/kg, Vitamin D3 42 μg/kg, Vitamin D3 125 μg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), streptozotocin + Vitamin D3 12.5 μg/kg streptozotocin + Vitamin D3 42 μg/kg streptozotocin + Vitamin D3 125 μg/kg. The animals were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine (0.5 mg/kg) and received a bilateral injection of streptozotocin (3mg/kg) intracerebroventicular (icv). After surgery the animals was submitted a recovery period for 72 hours. Then the animals were treated with VD3 orally for 21 days. Behavioral tests of open field and object recognition were realized from 21st to 24th day after surgery. After the 24th day the animals were anesthetized with isoflurane and euthanized. In relation to VD3 levels in serum, a significant increase (P<0.05) was observed in the groups that received the highest doses. A memory deficits in STZ group has been found, however, the treatment with VD3 shown to be effective in the preventing of loss of memory (P<0.05). Regarding the AChE activity was found increased in the hippocampus in STZ group, and this increase was attenuated by administration of VD3 (P<0.05). Animals of group with Dementia also showed a reduction in ATP hydrolysis and VD3 was able to prevent this effect (P<0.05). Furthermore, VD3 was able to reverse the increase in the hydrolysis to ADP and the decrease in AMP hydrolysis by STZ-icv. Thus, this study showed that administration of VD3 is capable of maintaining cholinergic neurotransmission, the homeostasis of the purinergic system as well as improve memory in animals with SDAT.