Effects of Seed Extract on Aging-Induced Memory Impairment in Samp8 Mice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not seed extract (CSSE) can ameliorate memory impairment in senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. Sixteen 10-week-old male SAMP8 mice were divided into two groups, which were orally administrated water (SAMP8(-)) or CSSE (200 mg/kg/day; SAMP8(+)). Eight 10-week-old male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were used as a normal control group and were also orally administrated water. The mean escape time in the Barnes maze test of SAMP8(-) mice was significantly longer than that of ICR mice. However, SAMP8(+) mice showed a shorter mean escape time compared to that of SAMP8(-) mice. Neurofilament messenger (m)RNA levels significantly decreased in the frontal lobe of SAMP8(-) mice when compared with ICR mice, but significantly increased in SAMP8(+) mice relative to SAMP8(-) mice. In addition, mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and neuronal (n)NOS significantly increased in the frontal lobe of SAMP8(-) mice, but only the mRNA level of nNOS significantly decreased in SAMP8(+) mice. These results indicated that continuous oral administration of CSSE for 12 weeks could ameliorate aging-induced memory declines in the senescence-accelerated SAMP8 mouse model.