Effect of Xiongma Dropping Pills on Social Behavior of Rats with Vascular Cognitive Impairment

OBJECTIVE To observe the changes of social behavior of rats with vascular cognitive impairment induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and to explore the intervention effect of Xiongma Dropping pills. METHODS The model of vascular cognitive impairment was established by permanent ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries. The rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group(saline 10 mL·kg^-1), model group (saline 10 mL·kg^-1), Xiongma Dropping pills high-dose group(crude drug 1.5 g·kg^-1) and low-dose group(crude drug 0.75 g·kg^-1). Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory of the rats in the 28th day and the 42th day. Social behavior was used in 7th, 14th, 28th, 42th day after operation to observe the social skills of rats. RESULTS There was no significant difference in social behavior between the 7th and 14th day after model preparation. On the 28th day and the 42th day, the duration of continuous contact in the model group decreased(P<0.05). On the 42nd day, in model group, the number of contacts decreased, the escape latency increased, and the times of crossing platforms also decreased. Compared with the model group, on 28th day of model preparation, the number of contacts in the Xiongma Dropping high dose group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the continuous contact time of the Xiongma Dropping pills high and low group was significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of contact and continuous contact time of rats in the low dose group increased(P<0.05), and the escape latency of rats in high and low dose group decreased significantly on 42nd day after operation. CONCLUSION On the 28th day of bilateral common carotid artery ligation in rats, social behavior disorder begin to appear, and the learning and memory impairment occur on the 42nd day after model preparation. After the intervene of Xiongma Dropping pills, the contact time and the number of contacts has been increased, it can be considered effective relieving on social barriers caused by bilateral carotid artery ligation, and the low dose effect is better than the high dose.