Impairments Of Liver Function And Spatial Learning And Memory Caused By Chronic Restraint Stress

Background Under chronic restraint stress (CRS) condition, the brain structures are affected and the spatial learning and memory were impaired. It is not clear whether CRS can impair other non-nervous organ. By employing Morris water maze (MWM) test and enzymatic activity measurement of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to evaluated spatial learning and memory as well as liver function, respectively, we tried to investigate the possible impairments to liver function as well as spatial learning and memory after CRS.Methods In the current study, rats receiving 14 daily restraint stress treatment (RS, 6 h/d) were treated with the typical antidepressant paroxetine (20 mg/kg) or liver-protecting Chinese prescription Sinisan (100 mg/kg), respectively, via the feeding water. Along with the treatment window, the body weights from different groups were measured and compared. The liver function or spatial learning and memory was evaluated with the enzyme activities of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as well as Morris Water Maze (MWM), respectively. Results Rats from the CRS group showed significant decrease in growing speed as revealed with the body weight (P < 0.05, vs Veh), elevated enzymatic levels for GPT and ALP, longer escape latency in the navigation test, decreased plate crossing time and increased percentage of the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.05, vs Veh). Paroxetine or Sinisan pretreatment increased the growing speed of CRS rats (P < 0.05, vs CRS+Veh). Paroxetine pretreatment did not change the levels for GPT and ALP (P > 0.05, vs CRS+Veh) but significantly reduced the escape latency in the navigation test, increased plate crossing time and increased percentage of the time spent in the target quadrant (P < 0.05, vs CRS+Veh). Pretreatment with Sinisan significantly decreased the levels for GPT and ALP (P < 0.05, vs CRS+Veh) but had no obvious effect on the escape latency in the navigation test, plate crossing time and percentage of the time spent in the target quadrant (P > 0.05, vs CRS+Veh).Conclusion These data together, suggested that CRS caused impairment to liver function as well as spatial learning and memory in a parallel way.