Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Physiology

Background:Both Diabetes mellitus and menopause cause imbalance of neurotransmitter systems in different brain areas leading to deterioration of cognition. Vitamin D is a neurohormone involved in the regulation of cognitive functions through affecting neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Objective: The purpose of the present study is toinvestigate the combined effect of diabetes and ovariectomy on cognition andon the gene expression of cholinergic, dopaminergic and vitamin D receptor neurotransmitter systems in the cortex and hippocampus, and toevaluate the effect of vitamin D treatment on cognitive functions, and its possible impact on these neurotransmitter systems. Methods: Fifty female albino rats were divided into 5 groups (10 rats/group); Control,diabetic(Streptozotocin 60 mg/kg, Intraperitoneal), ovariectomy,diabetic ovariectomized, and diabetic ovariectomized rats receiving oral vitamin D (12 microgram/kg/d for 5 weeks). At the end of the study blood glucose and estradiol levelswere measured and cognitive functions were assessed by open field and T-maze test. After decapitation, cerebral cortex and hippocampus were preserved for assay of cholinergic, dopaminergic and vitamin D receptors gene expression

Issued also as CD