Effect of Unilateral Molarless on Cholinergic System in Aged Rats

Objectives: To explore the effect of unilateral molarless on basal forebrain cholinergic system in aged rats with different learning and memory ability. Methods: Learning and memory deficit rats (DR) and normal rats(NR) were selected from aged rats by Morris water maze. Neurons in septum medialis (SM) and acetylcholinersterase(AchE) positive fibers in fore frontal cortex(FFC) and in hippocampal CA1 region of DR and NR were examined using immunohistochemical and histochemistry stain after removal of their unilateral molars. Results: The unilateral molarless DR showed a reduced number of cholineacetytransferase (ChAT) positive cells in SM and decreased density of AchE-positive fibers in FFC and hippocampal CA1 region compared to the intact molars DR (the control group)(P<0.01). The unilateral molarless NR showed decreased density of AchE¨C positive fibers of hippocampal CA1 region compared to its control group(P<0.01).Conclusion: The unilateral molarless enhance the impairment of basal forebrain cholinergic system in DR