Effects of curcumin on learning and memory deficits, BDNF, and ERK protein expression in rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that cognitive processes, such as learning and memory, are affected in depression and antidepressant treatment may ameliorate cognitive impairments. Recent studies have shown that curcumin exhibits antidepressant-like effects. The aim of the present study was to determine whether curcumin administration influences chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)-induced cognitive deficits and explores underlying mechanisms. Male Wistar rats were subjected to CUS protocol for a period of 5 weeks to induce depression. The depressive-like behavior was tested using sucrose preference test, open field test and Morris water maze test. Effects of curcumin on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) levels in the hippocampus were also examined. Chronic treatment with curcumin significantly reversed the CUS-induced behavioral and cognitive parameters (reduced sucrose preference and impaired learning and memory function) in stressed rats. Additionally, CUS reduced hippocampal BDNF and ERK levels, while curcumin effectively reversed these alterations. Taken together, our results indicate that the antidepressant-like effects of curcumin in CUS rats are related to its aptitude to promote BDNF and ERK in the hippocampus.
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In animal models, administration of curcumin improves chronic, stress-induced, depressive-like behaviors and cognitive defects such as impaired learning and memory.
“For example, in animal models, administration of curcumin improves chronic, stress-induced, depressive-like behaviors and cognitive defects (e.g. impaired learning and memory) [163].”
From Cognitive remission: a novel objective for the treatment of major depression? (2016) · cites this paper as [163]
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- Authors
- Liu, D., Wang, Z., Gao, Z., Xie, K., Zhang, Q., Jiang, H., & Pang, Q.
- Affiliations
- Shandong University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Pang, Qi
- Venue
- Behavioural Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-09
- Volume
- 271
- Pages
- 116-121
- ISSN
- 0166-4328 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2078569879
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 6.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavioural Brain Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (81200879)
- Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2011HQ035, ZR2012HM021)
- Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (2012M511514, 2013M531610, 2013T60672)
- Independent Innovation Foundation of Shandong University (IIFSDU2012TS120, 2012TS123)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Curcumin's Biomedical Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Keywords
- curcumin, chronic unpredictable mild stress, depression, antidepressant-like effects, learning and memory impairment, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, ERK, hippocampus, cognitive impairment, sucrose preference, Morris water maze
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antidepressive Agents, Cognition, Curcumin, Depression, Disease Models, Animal, Food Preferences, Hippocampus, Locomotion, Male, Memory Disorders, Motor Activity, Psychomotor Performance, Stress, Psychological, Treatment Outcome, Rats, Wistar, Maze Learning, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, Rats
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