RT Journal Article ID 62066ac8257a4545 A1 Fan, Linlin A1 Chen, Lingling A1 Liang, Zhi A1 Bao, Hongkun A1 Wang, Dan A1 Dong, Yilong A1 Zheng, Shangyong A1 Xiao, Chunjie A1 Du, Jing A1 Li, Hongliang T1 A Polysaccharide Extract from Maitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Grifola frondosa (Agaricomycetes) Ameliorates Learning and Memory Function in Aluminum Chloride-Induced Amnesia in Mice JF International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms JO IJM YR 2019 FD 2019-12-11 VO 21 IS 11 SP 1065 OP 1074 K1 Grifola frondosa K1 maitake K1 polysaccharide K1 amnesia K1 aluminum chloride K1 neuroprotection K1 medicinal mushrooms AB Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is an edible mushroom exhibiting high nutritional value in terms of containing health-beneficial bioactive compounds. Previously, we reported that a protein-bound polysaccharide bioactive component of G. frondosa (PGM) could enhance the expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR), which is critical for learning and memory. However, the potential benefits of PGM on learning and memory function have never been investigated. In the current study, we aimed to explore the beneficial effect of PGM on learning and memory function in aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced amnesia in mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Mice were intraperitoneally administered with AlCl3 (60 mg/kg/d) and PGM (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/d) for 6 weeks consecutively, and then the Morris water maze (MWM) test was conducted to assess the learning and memory function. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the morphology of neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). The expression of p-Tau (Ser396), Tau, p-GluA1 (S845), GluA1, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) proteins was evaluated with western blot. We found that PGM (5 and 10 mg/kg/d) significantly improved learning and memory function and attenuated histopathological abnormalities in the hippocampal DG region in the AlCl3-treated mice. Furthermore, PGM treatment significantly enhanced the level of AMPAR and BDNF in the hippocampus, while suppressing the tau protein hyperphosphorylation at the Ser396 site. These findings indicated that PGM could significantly attenuate the AlCl3-induced amnesia through the synergistic action of its active component on tau pathology, AMPAR and BDNF signaling pathway. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/708ae68d64b17c52,25f9c61f6dbb0698,62066ac8257a4545.html