N-Acetyl chitooligosaccharides attenuate amyloid β-induced damage in animal and cell models of Alzheimer's disease

In this study, the activities of N-acetyl chitooligosaccharides (NA-COS), the hydrolytic products of chitin, were evaluated using Aβ-induced damages in animal and cell models of AD. Our results demonstrated that NA-COS significantly improved both acquisition (learning) and retention (memory) of AD rats on water maze task. HE staining of brain tissue sections showed that NA-COS could ameliorate hippocampal neurodegeneration induced by Aβ25-35. Further biochemical analysis showed that NA-COS treatment of intrahippocampal Aβ-microinjected rats was able to elevate choline acetyltransferase activity and attenuate hippocampal acetylcholinesterase and malondialdehyde contents. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels in the hippocampus homogenate of rats after NA-COS treatment were much higher when compared with AD rats. Moreover, the Aβ25-35 (100 μmol/l) treatment reduced viability and induced apoptosis in rat adrenal gland pheochromocytoma cells (PC-12). Treatment with NA-COS had significantly attenuated Aβ-generated cytotoxicity on PC-12 cells by maintaining higher cell viability and elevating Bcl-2 expression. Therefore, it could be concluded that NA-COS showed great potential as new functional food ingredient to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.Graphical abstract
Source: Process Biochemistry - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research