Effects of galantamine on function of learning and memory and cholinergic neurons in cortex and hippocampus in rat models of Alzheimer's disease

Objective: To explore the effects of galantamine on function of learning and memory and cholinergic neurons in cortex and hippocampus in rat models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) so as to further investigate the mechanism of cholinesterase inhibitors in improving the cognitive ability of AD patients. Methods: The AD rat models established by injecting amyloid-beta protein (Aβ_1-40) into the bilateral Meynert nucleus were intervened with galantamine, and their abilities of learning and memory were measured with a behavioral test. Meanwhile, the changes in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the rats were examined with immunohistochemical technique. Results: In the AD model rats administered with galantamine, the performances in the test were significantly improved and ChAT immunoreactive positive neurons were increased significantly in hippocampus and cortex fields. Conclusion: Galantamine can significantly improve the function of learning and memory of the AD model rats, and enhancing the survival characteristics of cholinergic neurons may be one of the important mechanisms, indicating a new possible mechanism of cholinesterase inhibitors as a remedy for AD.