The effect of rosuvastatin coated by nano-chitosan on developing hippocampus: association with hippocampal neurogenesis and memory in an Alzheimer's induced model of rats

Statins are long known to be beneficial for neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Also, nanoparticle (NP) drugs can better affect the target tissue in various diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was surveying the effect of rosuvastatin (RZV) coated by nano-chitosan in an Alzheimer's (Alz) induced model of rats. We examined learning, memory, and hippocampal amyloid plaques and evaluate expression levels of calbindin, doublecortin (DCX), NeuroD1, neuronal nuclei (NeuN), and neurofilament. Forty rats were randomly divided into five various groups. AD was induced by injecting bilaterally with 1 μl of amyloid beta (Aβ) into the hippocampus. After confirmation of AD, RZV, or NP, or RZV+NP were administered gavage orally daily in rats for 30 days. Induction of AD significantly raised Aβ plaques and dead cells compared to the control group. Results of Morris water maze in the test day indicated that Alz+NP+RZV group significantly reduced escape latency and travelled distance, also significantly increased spending time compared to the Alz group (<i>P</i><0.05). RZV significantly decreased Aβ plaque percentage and the number of apoptotic cells compared to the Alz group (<i>P</i><0.05). In addition, NeuN and neurofilament protein expression and calbindin, DCX, and NeuroD1 genes expression increased in Alz+RZV and Alz+RZV+NP compared to the Alz group. RZV coated by nano-chitosan has good potential for reducing Aβ plaques and dead cells, increasing brain NeuN and neurofilament proteins and calbindin, DCX, and NeuroD1 genes, and improving learning and memory in Alz rats.