Impairment of cognitive function and reduced hippocampal cholinergic activity in a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia

摘要

The present study established a rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) to simulate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.CIH rats were evaluated for cognitive function using the Morris water maze,and neuronal pathology in the hippocampus was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining.In addition,hippocampal choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.Our results revealed necrotic hippocampal neurons,decreased ChAT and nAChR expression,as well as cognitive impairment in CIH rats.These results suggest that hippocampal neuronal necrosis and decreased cholinergic activity may be involved in CIH-induced cognitive impairment in rats.