Effects of triptolide on the expression of interleukin-1β mRNA and protein of hippocampus in model rats with Alzheimer′s disease

Objective To explore the effects of triptolide(TP) on the expression of interleukin-1β mRNA and protein of hippocampus in model rats with Alzheimer′s disease (AD). Methods Thirty male SD rats were equally divided into control,AD model and TP-treated groups. The AD model group was made with bilateral microinjection of aggregated beta-amyloid protein(Aβ)1-40 into hippocampus in rats and the control group rats were injected with normal saline in the same way.The TP-treated group rats were administered TP intraperitoneally after microinjection of aggregated Aβ1-40 into hippocampus. The expressions of interleukin-1β mRNA and protein of hippocampus in each group were assayed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining. Results The cell number and average optical density of IL-1β positive staining in the AD model group were higher than those in the control group(P0.01),the cell number and average optical density of IL-1βpositive staining in the TP-treated group were lower than those in the AD model group(P0.05 or 0.01). The expressions of IL-1βmRNA in the AD model group was higher than that in the control group(P0.01). The expression of IL-1βmRNA in the TP-treated group was lower than that in the AD model group(P0.01).Conclusions TP can inhibit IL-1β expression of hippocampus in model rats with AD.