Altered dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons in young adult rats orally intubated with Clitorea ternatea aqueous root extract

Abstract

Young adult (60 day old) Wistar rats of either sex were orally intubated with 50 mg/kg body weight and 100 mg/kg body weight of aqueous root extract of Clitoria ternatea (CTR) for 30 days, along with age-matched saline controls. These rats were then subjected to passive avoidance tests and the results from these studies showed a significant increase in passive avoidance learning and retention. Subsequent to the passive avoidance tests, these rats were killed by decapitation. The amygdala was processed for Golgi staining and the stained neurons were traced using a camera lucida and analysed. The results showed a significant increase in dendritic intersections, branching points and dendritic processes arising from the soma of amygdaloid neurons in CTR treated rats especially in the 100 mg/kg group of rats, compared with age-matched saline controls. This improved dendritic arborization of amygdaloid neurons correlates with the increased passive avoidance learning and memory in the CTR treated rats as reported earlier. The results suggest that Clitoria ternatea aqueous root extract enhances memory by increasing the functional growth of neurons of the amygdala.

Comparative analysis of the dendritic organization of principal neurons in the lateral and central nuclei of the rhesus macaque and rat amygdala

“…For the lateral nucleus, we observed a 70% increase in the average branch length and a 90% increase in the num-ber of dendritic branches between rat and rhesus macaque. These values are consistent with previous Sholl analyses of dendrite branch number in these species (Herzog, 1982;Rai et al, 2005;Rao et al, 2009). For Figure 18.…”

Comparative analysis of the dendritic organization of principal neurons in the lateral and central nuclei of the rhesus macaque and rat amygdala

“…For the lateral nucleus, we observed a 70% increase in the average branch length and a 90% increase in the num-ber of dendritic branches between rat and rhesus macaque. These values are consistent with previous Sholl analyses of dendrite branch number in these species (Herzog, 1982;Rai et al, 2005;Rao et al, 2009). For Figure 18.…”

Enhancement of basolateral amygdaloid neuronal dendritic arborization following Bacopa monniera extract treatment in adult rats

“…The learning process is associated with alterations in the dendritic morphology of amygdaloid neurons 33,39. In this study, the enhanced passive avoidance learning and memory in the rats treated with BM supported the functionality of the increased dendritic arborization in amygdaloid neurons of these rats.…”

Enhanced dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons during growth spurt periods in rats orally intubated with Bacopa monniera extract

“…Clitoria ternatea (commonly called Shankapushpi) aqueous root extract treatment of rats has shown: (1) improved learning and memory (including passive avoidance learning) (Rai et al 2001); (2) increased dendritic arborization of CA3 neurons of the hippocampus (Rai et al 2000); (3) increased acetylcholine content of the hippocampus (Rai et al 2002); and (4) increased dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons (Rai et al 2005). A few other herbal extracts have also been reported to show similar effects.…”

Comparative analysis of the dendritic organization of principal neurons in the lateral and central nuclei of the rhesus macaque and rat amygdala

“…For the lateral nucleus, we observed a 70% increase in the average branch length and a 90% increase in the num-ber of dendritic branches between rat and rhesus macaque. These values are consistent with previous Sholl analyses of dendrite branch number in these species (Herzog, 1982;Rai et al, 2005;Rao et al, 2009). For Figure 18.…”

Enhancement of basolateral amygdaloid neuronal dendritic arborization following Bacopa monniera extract treatment in adult rats

“…The learning process is associated with alterations in the dendritic morphology of amygdaloid neurons 33,39. In this study, the enhanced passive avoidance learning and memory in the rats treated with BM supported the functionality of the increased dendritic arborization in amygdaloid neurons of these rats.…”

Enhanced dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons during growth spurt periods in rats orally intubated with Bacopa monniera extract

“…Clitoria ternatea (commonly called Shankapushpi) aqueous root extract treatment of rats has shown: (1) improved learning and memory (including passive avoidance learning) (Rai et al 2001); (2) increased dendritic arborization of CA3 neurons of the hippocampus (Rai et al 2000); (3) increased acetylcholine content of the hippocampus (Rai et al 2002); and (4) increased dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons (Rai et al 2005). A few other herbal extracts have also been reported to show similar effects.…”

Comparative analysis of the dendritic organization of principal neurons in the lateral and central nuclei of the rhesus macaque and rat amygdala

“…For the lateral nucleus, we observed a 70% increase in the average branch length and a 90% increase in the num-ber of dendritic branches between rat and rhesus macaque. These values are consistent with previous Sholl analyses of dendrite branch number in these species (Herzog, 1982;Rai et al, 2005;Rao et al, 2009). For Figure 18.…”

Enhancement of basolateral amygdaloid neuronal dendritic arborization following Bacopa monniera extract treatment in adult rats

“…The learning process is associated with alterations in the dendritic morphology of amygdaloid neurons 33,39. In this study, the enhanced passive avoidance learning and memory in the rats treated with BM supported the functionality of the increased dendritic arborization in amygdaloid neurons of these rats.…”

Enhanced dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons during growth spurt periods in rats orally intubated with Bacopa monniera extract

“…Clitoria ternatea (commonly called Shankapushpi) aqueous root extract treatment of rats has shown: (1) improved learning and memory (including passive avoidance learning) (Rai et al 2001); (2) increased dendritic arborization of CA3 neurons of the hippocampus (Rai et al 2000); (3) increased acetylcholine content of the hippocampus (Rai et al 2002); and (4) increased dendritic arborization of amygdala neurons (Rai et al 2005). A few other herbal extracts have also been reported to show similar effects.…”