Exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes cognitive impairment (CI). In the preliminary study, Lactobacillus gasseri NK109 suppressed LPS-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Therefore, the effect of NK109 on LPS-increased CI was investigated in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS caused CI-like behaviors and neuroinflammation. However, orally administered NK109 reduced LPS-increased CI-like behaviors and hippocampal IL-1β and TNF-α expression, whereas LPS-decreased BDNF expression increased. NK109 also reduced LPS-increased colonic myeloperoxidase, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression. The efficacy of NK109 was increased by the combination of soybean embryo ethanol extract (SE). These findings suggest that NK109 with SE can improve CI by alleviating inflammation-mediated BDNF expression, thereby being beneficial for dementia therapy.

본 연구는 서로 다른 운동유형이 당뇨처치 그룹의 베타 아밀로이드, BDNF 및 인지기능에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 24마리의 C57BL/6 쥐를 당뇨처치를 하지 않은 그룹 6마리(통제그룹: 6)와 당뇨처치 그룹 18마리로 무작위 할당하여, 이를 다시 당뇨처치 그룹의 경우 통제그룹 6마리, 유산소 운동그룹 6마리, 저항운동 그룹 6마리로 나누었고 운동그룹은 8주간 주 5회 저강도로 각각 트레드밀 운동과 사다리 운동을 실시하였다. 그 결과 베타아밀로이드는 8주 후 당뇨처치 그룹의 통제그룹 (DM.G.)이 나머지 세 그룹에 비하여 높은 수준을 나타내었으나 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 나타나지 않았다. BDNF의 경우는 당뇨통제그룹이 나머지 세 그룹에 비하여 낮은 수준을 나타냈으며 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 나타냈다(p<.05). 인지기능을 알아보기 위한 Y-미로 검사에서도 당뇨통제 그룹이 나머지 세그룹에 비하여 낮은 수준을 보였으며 통계적으로도 유의한 차이를 나타냈다(p<.05).

This study was designed to examine the effects of electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise on the improvement of muscle atrophy and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) expression in an ischemic stroke model induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. This study selected 120 Sprangue-Dawley rats, divided them into six groups, and assigned 5 rats to each group. Experiments were conducted for 1, 3 days and 1, 8 weeks, respectively. In each group, changes in weight of muscle and relative muscle of tibialis anterior muscle, histologic observations, and BDNF expression were observed and analyzed. For the changes in muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibialis anterior, muscle atrophy was expressed in an affected side 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced. There was a statistically significant difference in Group VI 1 and 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For the changes in relative muscle weight of unaffected and affected sides of tibial anterior muscle, there was significant decrease in each group 3 days after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group I, while there was a statistically significant increase in Group VI 1 week after ischemic stroke was induced, compared to Group II (p<.05). For neurologic exercise behavior test, Group VI generally had the highest score, compared to other groups. The results of the behavior test suggests that 8 weeks after ischemic stroke was induced, Group VI improved in degeneration and inflammation of muscle fiber and decreased in destruction of nerve cells and cerebral infarction, thus indicating a similar state of muscle fiber and brain tissue in Group I. In immunohistochemical observations, Group 1 week showed increase in BDNF. Based on these results, electroacupuncture and treadmill exercise may improve muscle atrophy and change in BDNF expression of ischemic stroke rats and contribute to the improvement of exercise function.

Background : This study aimed to identify the mechanisms of the antinociceptive effects of PG in the fibromyalgia (FM)-like animal model. Methods and Results : To assess the possible effect of PG on FM symptoms, we constructed a FM animal model induced by intermittent cold stress with slight modification. All mice underwent nociceptive assays using electronic von Frey anesthesiometer and Hargreaves equipment. To assess the relation between PG and the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), western blotting and immunohistochemistry analyses were performed. In behavioral analysis, nociception tests showed that the pain threshold was significantly decreased in the FM group compared to control group. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus showed downregulation of BDNF and p-CREB proteins in the FM group compared to control group. PG recovered these changes at behavioral tests and protein level. These results provide evidence that the effects of PG extract in the FM model may be related to its modulating effect on the BDNF signaling pathway in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. Conclusion : Our animal model may be involved in the mechanism by which PG extract is effective as a therapeutic agent for FM.