[Effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on expression of alpha-secretase mRNA in brains of senescence-accelerated SAMP8 mice].

Objective: To study the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on expression of alpha-aecretase mRNA in the brains of senescence-accelerated SAMP8 mice.

Method: SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into the control group, the PNS high-dosage group (200 mg x kg(-1)), the PNS low-dosage group (100 mg x kg(-1)) and the huperzine A group (0.3 mg x kg(-1)), with eight mice in each group. The control group and each administration group were orally administered with the same volume of double distilled water once for consecutively two months. The expression of alpha-secretase (ADAM 9, ADAM10, ADAM17) mRNA was assayed by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR).

Result: The expression of ADAM9 mRNA in PNS high-dosage group and huperzine A group were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of ADAM10 in the PNS high-dosage group, the PNS low-dosage group and the huperzine A group showed no significant difference from the control group.

Conclusion: PNS can up-regulate expressions of ADAM9 mRNA and down-regulate expressions of ADAM10 mRNA in the brains of SAMP8 mice.