Protective effects of pioglitazone on LPS-induced cognitive deficits and damages of neurons in rats

Objective To study the protective effects of pioglitazone on LPS-induced cognitive deficits and damages of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in rats.Methods Rats were given Pio(40,80 mg/kg) with ig method for 3 weeks,then they were injected LPS.Two days later,Morris water maze was used to measure the spatial learning and memory ability of rats.After behavior test,Nissl staining and immunohistochemical technique(for GFAP) were employed to determine the morphology of pyramidal neurons and astrocyte infiltration in hippocampal CA1.Results Intracere broventricular injection of LPS in rats resulted in spatial learning and memory impairments which shown by longer escape latency and decreased the percentage of swimming distant in the target quadrant.These behavioral dysfunction were accompanied by injury of astrocyte and pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1.Oral administration of Pio(40,80 mg/kg) markedly alleviated the memory impairment and the damage of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.Conclusion Pio can improve the learning and memory ability of rats impaired by LPS through suppressions of inflammatory response and protection of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.