Evaluation of involvement of adrenergic receptor modulator in hypertension induced experimental Vascular Dementia in Rats

Objective: Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease are considered as a major risk factor for the development of VaD. This study investigates the efficacy of nicergoline in 2K1C induced vascular endothelium dysfunction and related dementia. Methods: 2K1C renovascular hypertension has induced hypertension in Albino Wistar rats (male, 200-250g). Morris water maze (MWM), and attentional set shifting tests (ASST) were used to assess the spatial learning, memory, reversal learning, and executive functioning in animals. Mean artery blood pressure, serum nitrite/nitrate, vascular endothelial function, aortic superoxide anion, brains’ oxidative markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive species-TBARS, reduced glutathione-GSH, superoxide dismutase-SOD, and catalase-CAT), inflammatory markers (myeloperoxidase-MPO), calcium levels, acetylcholinesterase activity-and AChE ativity were also assessed. Nicergoline (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg p.o.) was used as the treatment drugs. Donepezil (0.5mgkg-1) was used as a positive control. Results: 2K1C rats showed reduction in learning, memory, reversal learning, executive functioning, impairment in endothelial function, increase in mean artery blood pressure, brains’ oxidative stress, inflammation, calcium levels, and AchE-activity. Administration of nicergoline significantly attenuated the 2K1C induced impairments in the behavioral, endothelial, and biochemical parameters. Conclusion: 2K1C renovascular hypertension induced impairment in behavioral, endothelial, and biochemical parameters which were attenuated by the administration of nicergoline. Therefore, nicergoline may be studied further for the assessment of their full potential in hypertension induced VaD.