Effect of curcumin on learning-memory ability and expression of HMGB1 and JNK in rat model of Alzheimer disease

AIM: To evaluate the effect of curcumin on impaired learning-memory ability and the expression of high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in a rat model of Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250~270 g, were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=9): blank control group (group A), model group (group B), curcumin treatment group (group C, curcumin injected intraperitoneally at 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 for 6 consecutive days) and solvent control group (group D). The rats of AD model were induced by injection of ibotenic acid into the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) bilaterally. All rats were trained in Morris maze to assess the ability of learning and memory. The expression of HMGB1 and JNK in the hippocampus was detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with group A, the average escape latency (AEL) in groups B and D were obviously longer (P<0.05), while AEL in group C in the 5th and 6th days were significantly shorter (P<0.05). The releases of HMGB1 in the CA1 and CA3 areas in groups B and D from the nucleus were abundant. Compared with groups B and D, HMGB1 in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas in group C secreted out of the nucleus decreased obviously (P<0.05). No significant difference of the release of HMGB1 between group A and group C was observed (P>0.05). No significant difference in the expression of HMGB1 in the hippocampus among the 4 groups was found (P>0.05). However, compared with groups B and D, the expression of JNK in group C was decreased obviously (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Curcumin significantly improves the learning and memory ability of AD rats. The probable mechanisms may be related to inhibiting the release of HMGB1 from the nucleus of hippocampal neurons and decreasing the expression of JNK in the hippocampus.