AUTHOR=Gao Huanjia , Liu Xianshuang , Venkat Poornima , Findeis Elizabeth , Zacharek Alex , Powell Brianna , Mccann Mikkala , Kim Harold , Zhang Zhenggang , Chopp Michael 

TITLE=Treatment of vascular dementia in female rats with AV-001, an Angiopoietin-1 mimetic peptide, improves cognitive function

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 18 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1408205

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2024.1408205

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=Background: Vascular dementia (VaD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder. We previously found that treatment of VaD in middle-aged male rats subjected to multiple microinfarction (MMI) with AV-001, a Tie2 receptor agonist, significantly improves cognitive function. Age and sex affect the development and response of VaD to therapeutic intervention. Thus, the present study investigated the therapeutic effect of AV-001 on VaD in aged female rats subjected to MMI.Methods: Female18-month-old Wistar rats were subjected to MMI by injecting either 1000 (low dose, LD-MMI) or 6000 (high dose, HD-MMI) cholesterol crystals of size 70-100 µm into the right internal carotid artery. AV-001 (1µg/Kg, i.p.) was administered once daily after MMI for 1 month, with treatment initiated 1 day after MMI. A battery of behavioral tests to examine sensorimotor and cognitive functions was performed at 21-28 days after MMI. All rats were sacrificed at 1 month after