Background: Enriched environment (EE) is a simple and effective intervention to improve cognitive function in post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), partly due to the rebalancing of the cholinergic signaling pathway in the hippocampus. α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) is a cholinergic receptor whose activation inhibits inflammation and promotes the recovery of neurological function in PSCI patients. However, it is still unclear whether EE can regulate α7-nAChR and activate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) in PSCI. Objective: To investigate the effects of EE on cognitive impairment, and the role of α7-nAChR in PSCI. Methods: A PSCI rat model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) and were reared in standard environment (SE) or EE for 28d, control group with sham surgery. Cognitive function was determined by Morris water maze test. The long-term potentiation (LTP) was assessed by Electrophysiology. Histopathological methods were used to determine infarct volume, α7-nAChR expression and the cytokines and cholinergic proteins expression. Results: Compared with SE group, rats in EE group had better cognitive function, higher expression of α7-nAChR positive neurons in hippocampal CA1 region. In addition, EE attenuated unfavorable changes induced by MCAO/R in cytokines and cholinergic proteins, and also enhanced LTP promoted by nicotine and attenuated by α-BGT; but showed no significantly difference in infarct volume. Conclusions: EE markedly improves cognitive impairment and enhances neuroplasticity in PSCI rats, which may be closely related to enhancement of α7-nAChR expression.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.