Objective To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on learning and memory abilities, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic roles in a valproic acid (VPA)-induced rat model of autism. Methods After prenatal exposure to VPA, the three-chamber test was used to identify the autism modeling, the expression of the signaling molecules of the Notch1/hes1 signaling pathway Notch1, Notch intracellular domain (NICD), Jagged1 and Hes1 in the hippocampus (HC) of autistic rats was determined using Western blot, the expression of Hes1 was determined using the immunohistochemical technique. Then, the roles of NAC in learning and memory abilities and the Notch1/hes1 signaling pathway in the VPA-induced autism model were investigated. Results Compared with the control group, VPA increased the time spent in finding the platform, decreased the number of crossing platform and the time spent in the platform. However, compared with the VPA group, VPA+NAC group lowered the time spent in finding the platform, increased the number of crossing platform and the time spent in the platform. Simultaneously, the expression levels of NICD and Hes1 in VPA+NAC group decreased in the HC of autism model, and NAC ameliorated learning and memory abilities in the autism model rats. Conclusion The beneficial effects of NAC in ameliorating learning and memory abilities of autism model may be mediated by attenuating the Notch1/hes1 pathway activity.
XIANG Zhe, ZHANG Ying-hua, HE Xue-ling, WANG Li-jun, CUI Wei-gang
. N-acetylcysteine ameliorates learning and memory abilities via the Notch1/hes1 signaling pathway of the hippocampus in a valproic acid-induced rat model of autism [J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy, 2019
, 37(4)
: 390
-396
.
DOI: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2019.04.007
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