Vitex Agnus Castus Extract Improves Learning and Memory and Increases the Transcription of Estrogen Receptor α in Hippocampus of Ovariectomized Rats

• Published in: Basic and clinical neuroscience 2015-07, Vol.6 (3), p.185-192
• Main Authors: Allahtavakoli, Mohammad, Honari, Najmeh, Pourabolli, Iran, Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi, Ghafarian, Hossein, Roohbakhsh, Ali, Ali Esmaeili Nadimi, Shamsizadeh, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17β-Estradiol; Cognitive ability; Estrogen receptor alpha; Estrogens; Gene expression; Hippocampus; Hormone replacement therapy; Learning; Memory; Menopause; Ovariectomy; Phytoestrogens; Post-menopause; Research Papers; Rodents; Transcription; Uterus; Vitex agnus-castus
• ISSN: 2008-126X; 2228-7442

Introduction:Lower level of estrogen hormone is considered as an important factor for loss of learning and memory in postmenopausal women. Although estrogen replacement therapy is used for compensation, but long-term usage of estrogen is associated with a higher risk of hormonedependent cancers. Phytoestrogens, due to fewer side effects, have been proposed to prevent menopause-related cognitive decline.Methods: 24 female Wistar rats weighing 180-220 g were used in this study. The animals were ovariectomized and randomly divided into four groups including, control and two groups which received 8 and 80 mg/kg Vitex agnus castus (VAC) ethanolic extract orally. The last groups were treated with 40 μg/kg of estradiol valerat. Step-through passive avoidance (STPA) test was used for the evaluation of learning and memory. The hippocampal estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression was measured using Real-Time PCR.Results: The results demonstrated that VAC extract or estradiol had better performance on stepthrough passive avoidance test than control group (all P