Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of Danlong Xingnao Formula on neurovascular unit(NVU) and synaptic plasticity in rats with vascular dementia(VD).
METHODS SD rats were gave modified 2-VO method to establish VD rat model. SD rats were randomly divided into model group, nimodipine group, Danlong Xingnao Formula high-dose(14.8 g·kg−1), medium-dose(7.4 g·kg−1) and low-dose(3.7 g·kg−1) group with 10 rats in each group. Administer corresponding medication by gavage separately, at the same time, the sham operation group was set and given the same amount of normal saline, all rats were treated for 4 weeks. Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats in each group. Observation of NVU and synaptic ultrastructure in hippocampal tissue using transmission electron microscopy. Detection of microvessel density(MVD), growth associated protein 43(GAP43), neurite outgrowth inhibitor A (Nogo-A), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) expression in hippocampal tissue using immunohistochemistry. Real-time PCR method was used for detecting the expression of synapsin(SYP) and postsynaptic dense protein-95(PSD-95) mRNA in hippocampal tissue. Western blotting was used for detection of SYP and PSD-95 protein expression in hippocampal tissue.
RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group, the learning and spatial memory abilities of the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01), significant pathological changes were observed in the NVU and synaptic ultrastructure of hippocampal tissue, Nogo-A and GFAP expression were increased(P<0.01), MVD, GAP43, VEGF expression were decreased(P<0.01), the expression of SYP, PSD-95 mRNA and protein in hippocampus were decreased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, after the intervention of Danlong Xingnao Formula, the learning and memory ability of VD rats was significantly improved; the pathological morphological damage to NVU and synaptic ultrastructure was reduced, the expression of Nogo-A and GFAP was reduced, while the expression of MVD, GAP43, VEGF was increased, the mRNA and protein expression of SYP, PSD-95 in the hippocampus was up-regulated(P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSION The Danlong Xingnao Formula may improve the learning and memory abilities of VD rats by promoting NVU and synaptic plasticity remodeling.