Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2022, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (4): 432-437.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2022.4.11

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Effects of Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate on learning and memory ability in rats and its mechanism

Li Jianzhong1,2, Hao Xinghua3, Wu Haiping1,2, Wu Zhibing1, Zhang Lifang4*   

  1. 1. Department of Human Anatomy, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province, China; 2. Laboratory of  Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Basic Medicine, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province, China; 3. Department of Clinical Psychology, Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000, Shanxi Province,  China; 4. Department of Neurology, Changzhi People's Hospital, Changzhi 046099, Shanxi Province, China
  • Received:2021-12-11 Online:2022-07-25 Published:2022-07-26

Abstract: Objective   To investigate the effects of Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate on learning and memory ability and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in rats.  Methods  Thirty-three SD rats were randomly divided into a control (C), a low-dose Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate (A-LD) and a high-dose Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate group (A-HD), with 11 rats in each group. They were administered by gavage once a day (C: 1 ml of normal saline; A-LD: 60 mg/kg of Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate; A-HD: 120 mg/kg of Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate) for 60 days. The learning and memory ability was detected by Morris water maze test.The expression of synaptophysin (SYN) and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95) in hippocampus of rats in each group were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. The dendritic spine density in hippocampal CA1 region was detected by Golgi staining, and the synaptic numerical density (Nv) and surface density (Sv) were detected by transmission electron microscopy and stereological methods.   Results    Morris water maze test showed that there was no significant difference in escape latency between C group and A-LD group (P>0.05). While the escape latency significantly prolonged and the time spent in target quadrant and number of platform crossings significantly reduced in A-HD group compared with C group (P<0.01). Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot showed that there was no significant difference in the expression of SYN and PSD95 in hippocampus between C group and A-LD group (P>0.05), while the expression of SYN and PSD95 in hippocampus of A-HD group significantly reduced compared with C group (P<0.01). Golgi staining and transmission electron microscopy showed that there was no significant difference in the dendritic spine density, Nv and Sv between C group and A-LD group (P>0.05), while the dendritic spine density, Nv and Sv of A-HD group significantly reduced compared with C group (P<0.01).   Conclusions   The high-dose Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate can reduce the hippocampal synaptic plasticity of rats, resulting in the impairment of learning and memory ability.

Key words: Caffeine and Sodium Benzoate,  ,  , Learning ability,  ,  , Memory ability,  ,  , Hippocampus, Synaptic plasticity

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