Forsythoside B ameliorates diabetic cognitive dysfunction by inhibiting hippocampal neuroinflammation and reducing synaptic dysfunction in ovariectomized mice

BACKGROUND: Diabetes-associated cognitive impairment (DACI) is a common complication of diabetes, and studies have shown that DACI is more severe in postmenopausal patients with diabetes. Forsythoside B (FTS⋅B) can inhibit inflammation and reduce synaptic dysfunction, which can improve cognitive function. However, it has not been confirmed whether FTS⋅B has a reversing or retarding effect on postmenopausal diabetic encephalopathy. METHODS: Seven days after bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery, adult female C57 mice (n = 15/group) received intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg/day/L) and citrate buffer for 5 consecutive days to induce diabetes mellitus (DM). Fourteen days later, ovariectomized diabetic mice were given intraperitoneal injection of FTS⋅B (100, 150 mg/kg/day/L) and subcutaneous injection of 17β-estradiol (1 mg/kg) for 8 weeks [OVX + DM + low-FTS⋅B group (L-F), OVX + DM + high-FTS⋅B group (H-F), and OVX + DM + 17β-estradiol (ER)]. In addition, the following control groups were defined: Sham, OVX, DM, and OVX + DM (O + D). Fasting plasma glucose, body weight and blood insulin levels were determined in each group of mice. Next, their cognitive function was tested through behavioral experiments. Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining were used to detect the morphological changes in the hippocampus. The aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and the hyperaggregation of p-tau were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), post-synaptic density-95 (PSD-95), synaptophysin, and synapsin-1 expression in the hippocampus was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis. RESULTS: FTS⋅B can decrease fasting glucose and blood insulin level. Behavioral results showed that cognitive decline was the most severe in the O + D group, and the ER, L-F, and H-F groups revised the cognitive decline. Compared to the O + D group, more normal morphology, which has obvious nucleoli and clear nuclear membrane, was observed by H&E and Nissl staining in the ER, L-F, and H-F groups. FTS⋅B alleviated DACI by reducing the aggregation of Aβ and the hyperaggregation of p-tau in the hippocampus. Moreover, the protein and mRNA expression showed that FTS⋅B not only inhibited inflammation by decreasing IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α but also modulated synaptic plasticity by increasing BDNF, PSD-95, synaptophysin, and synapsin-1. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that FTS⋅B may be a novel therapeutic target for postmenopausal diabetic encephalopathy treatment.