Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements
Background/Objectives: Levo-Stepholidine (<i>l</i>-SPD), a compound extracted from Chinese herbs, has the potential to treat psychotic disorders where cognitive deficits are a critical challenge. <i>L</i>-SPD displays a D1R agonism/D2R antagonism pharmacological profile, and...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Zhengwei Hu Xueqing Zhu Yirui Liang Yuqiu Zhang Ping Zheng Xuehan Zhang |
| author_facet | Zhengwei Hu Xueqing Zhu Yirui Liang Yuqiu Zhang Ping Zheng Xuehan Zhang |
| author_sort | Zhengwei Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Levo-Stepholidine (<i>l</i>-SPD), a compound extracted from Chinese herbs, has the potential to treat psychotic disorders where cognitive deficits are a critical challenge. <i>L</i>-SPD displays a D1R agonism/D2R antagonism pharmacological profile, and its effect on cognitive function is still vague and lacks comprehensive study. Here, we investigated the impact of l-SPD on two core indexes of executive function, working memory and response inhibition, and learning and memory. Methods: Using a delayed alternation T-maze task (DAT), we investigated the impact of <i>l</i>-SPD on working memory, evaluated its effect on response inhibition using the stop-signal task (SST), and assessed the impact on learning and memory using trace fear conditioning in Sprague-Dawley rats. We further evaluated its effects on prefrontal glutamate receptor expression using western blot. Results: Rats receiving <i>l</i>-SPD made fewer errors in the T-maze, exhibited faster stop action in response to the stop signal, and showed longer-lasting memory retention. Molecular mechanism investigations reveal that <i>l</i>-SPD upregulates the expression of prefrontal glutamate receptors. These results demonstrate that <i>l</i>-SPD improves executive function and memory. Conclusions: Here, we show the enhancement effect of l-SPD on cognitive function, which provides essential implicants for the treatment of cognitive deficits, which is a critical unmet need in psychiatric care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4657c2c02c54cb1b39ee2504fd74956 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4657c2c02c54cb1b39ee2504fd749562024-12-27T14:12:30ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-11-011212268010.3390/biomedicines12122680Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory ImprovementsZhengwei Hu0Xueqing Zhu1Yirui Liang2Yuqiu Zhang3Ping Zheng4Xuehan Zhang5State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, ChinaBackground/Objectives: Levo-Stepholidine (<i>l</i>-SPD), a compound extracted from Chinese herbs, has the potential to treat psychotic disorders where cognitive deficits are a critical challenge. <i>L</i>-SPD displays a D1R agonism/D2R antagonism pharmacological profile, and its effect on cognitive function is still vague and lacks comprehensive study. Here, we investigated the impact of l-SPD on two core indexes of executive function, working memory and response inhibition, and learning and memory. Methods: Using a delayed alternation T-maze task (DAT), we investigated the impact of <i>l</i>-SPD on working memory, evaluated its effect on response inhibition using the stop-signal task (SST), and assessed the impact on learning and memory using trace fear conditioning in Sprague-Dawley rats. We further evaluated its effects on prefrontal glutamate receptor expression using western blot. Results: Rats receiving <i>l</i>-SPD made fewer errors in the T-maze, exhibited faster stop action in response to the stop signal, and showed longer-lasting memory retention. Molecular mechanism investigations reveal that <i>l</i>-SPD upregulates the expression of prefrontal glutamate receptors. These results demonstrate that <i>l</i>-SPD improves executive function and memory. Conclusions: Here, we show the enhancement effect of l-SPD on cognitive function, which provides essential implicants for the treatment of cognitive deficits, which is a critical unmet need in psychiatric care.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2680Chinese herbantipsychotic agentsD1 receptor agonistD2 receptor antagonistcognitionexecutive function |
| spellingShingle | Zhengwei Hu Xueqing Zhu Yirui Liang Yuqiu Zhang Ping Zheng Xuehan Zhang Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements Biomedicines Chinese herb antipsychotic agents D1 receptor agonist D2 receptor antagonist cognition executive function |
| title | Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements |
| title_full | Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements |
| title_fullStr | Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements |
| title_full_unstemmed | Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements |
| title_short | Levo-Stepholidine as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer: Insights into Executive Function and Memory Improvements |
| title_sort | levo stepholidine as a potential cognitive enhancer insights into executive function and memory improvements |
| topic | Chinese herb antipsychotic agents D1 receptor agonist D2 receptor antagonist cognition executive function |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/12/2680 |
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