Cerebrosides from Sea Cucumber Improved Aβ1-42-Induced Cognitive Deficiency in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Scope Cerebrosides are a class of neutral glycosphingolipids, which are widely found to be present in brain tissue. In this study, the protective effect of sea cucumber cerebrosides (Cer) against beta-amyloid (A beta)-induced cognitive impairment is investigated. Methods and results Male SD rats receive a ventricle injection A beta(1-42) peptide to establish an Alzheimer's disease model. Then, the protective effects of Cer against A beta(1-42)-induced cognitive impairment by gavage and feed addition are evaluated. The Morris water maze test results show that oral administration of Cer can significantly ameliorate A beta(1-42)-induced cognitive deficiency at both high dose (200 mg per kg center dot per day) and low dose (40 mg per kg center dot per day) for 27 days. Dietary supplement of Cer by feed addition also exhibits the amelioration on the impaired cognitive function. Further findings indicate that Cer ameliorates A beta(1-42)-induced neuronal damage and suppresses the induced apoptosis by decreasing the level of Bax/Bcl-2. Additionally, Cer enhances the expressions of PSD-95 and synaptophysin by activating BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating A beta(1-42)-induced synaptic dysfunction. Furthermore, Cer attenuates A beta(1-42)-induced tau hyperphosphorylation by activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK3 beta signaling pathway. Conclusion Sea cucumber cerebrosides possess neuroprotective effects against A beta(1-42)-triggered cognitive deficits, which may be a potential nutritional preventive strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.