The impairment in spatial learning and hippocampal LTD induced through the PKA pathway in juvenile-onset diabetes rats are rescued by modulating NMDA receptor function

Abstract Childhood- or early adulthood-onset type 1 diabetes is associated with modest impairments in cognition, and has an elevated risk of cognitive decline. Although an earlier onset age of diabetes has been identified as one of the strongest risk factors associated with cognitive dysfunction, little is known about the effects of cognitive performance associated with hippocampal function. Our previous study showed impaired working memory and hippocampal long-term depression (LTD) deficits in juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus (JDM) rats. Here, we demonstrated that treatment with the NMDA open-channel blocker, memantine, rescued hippocampal LTD and hippocampal-dependent memory in JDM rats. In addition, the impairment in LTD was attributed to a malfunction in NR2B-containing NMDA receptors. JDM rats exhibited excessive PKA activity, which may play a role in altered NMDA receptor function and impaired LTD. The changes in NR2B-containing NMDA receptors and PKA activity may be involved in learning impairments in JDM rats. Our findings suggest that NMDA open-channel blockers offer a potential strategy to treat cognitive deficits in childhood-onset diabetes.