生物谷導(dǎo)讀：人類(lèi)和許多動(dòng)物年老時(shí)都會(huì)出現(xiàn)記憶衰退現(xiàn)象,，過(guò)去的研究顯示,，這與大腦中一種名為糖皮質(zhì)素的激素含量過(guò)高有關(guān),，因此能夠控制這種激素的藥物將可能幫助治療老年記憶衰退,。最新這篇文章提供了新思路,。
10月13日，英國(guó)愛(ài)丁堡大學(xué)研究人員在《神經(jīng)科學(xué)雜志》上報(bào)告說(shuō),，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)一種藥物可快速有效地幫助實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠抵抗由于年齡引起的記憶衰退,，這將有助于研發(fā)治療人類(lèi)老年癡呆癥的藥物。
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研究人員于是利用實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠測(cè)試了一種新合成的名為UE1961的藥物,，它可以通過(guò)阻斷生成路徑來(lái)控制糖皮質(zhì)素的含量,。結(jié)果顯示，那些年老的實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠在服用這種藥物僅僅10天之后,，在迷宮測(cè)試中表現(xiàn)出的記憶能力就有了明顯改善。
進(jìn)行研究的喬納森·塞克爾教授說(shuō),，這種藥物可幫助抵抗老年記憶衰退在意料之中,，但年老實(shí)驗(yàn)鼠服藥數(shù)天之后記憶就有改善，藥效之快讓人驚訝,。研究人員表示,，下一步將探索該藥物是否可以安全地用于人類(lèi)。如果進(jìn)展順利,，將有望用這種藥物幫助人類(lèi)抵抗由年齡引起的記憶衰退,，以及治療老年癡呆癥等疾病。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦英文摘要：
The Journal of Neuroscience doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2783-10.2010
Partial Deficiency or Short-Term Inhibition of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Improves Cognitive Function in Aging Mice
Karen Sooy,2 Scott P. Webster,2 June Noble,2 Margaret Binnie,2 Brian R. Walker,2 Jonathan R. Seckl,1,2 and Joyce L. W. Yau1,2
1Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, and 2Endocrinology Unit, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) regenerates active glucocorticoids (GCs) from intrinsically inert 11-keto substrates inside cells, including neurons, thus amplifying steroid action. Excess GC action exerts deleterious effects on the hippocampus and causes impaired spatial memory, a key feature of age-related cognitive dysfunction. Mice with complete deficiency of 11β-HSD1 are protected from spatial memory impairments with aging. Here, we tested whether lifelong or short-term decreases in 11β-HSD1 activity are sufficient to alter cognitive function in aged mice. Aged (24 months old) heterozygous male 11β-HSD1 knock-out mice, with 60% reduction in hippocampal 11β-reductase activity throughout life, were protected against spatial memory impairments in the Y-maze compared to age-matched congenic C57BL/6J controls. Pharmacological treatment of aged C57BL/6J mice with a selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitor (UE1961) for 10 d improved spatial memory performance in the Y-maze (59% greater time in novel arm than vehicle control). These data support the use of selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitors in the treatment of age-related cognitive impairments.
