[Effects of Naohuandan Recipe on learning and memory abilities of SAM-P/8 mice and its role in anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Naohuandan Recipe on learning and memory abilities of SAM-P/8 mice and its role in anti-oxidation and anti-apoptosis.


METHODS
Forty SAM-P/8 mice were randomly divided into four groups, which were untreated (normal saline-treated) group, Yinkeluo Tablets (extracts of gingko leaf)-treated group, low-dose Naohuandan Recipe-treated group and high-dose Naohuandan Recipe-treated group. Mice in these groups were given corresponding drugs orally for 105 days. Then the performances of learning and memory of mice were tested by a step-down passive avoidance task and a Y-maze test. The serum levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected. The expression level of bcl-xl mRNA in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The performances of learning and memory in the Yinkeluo Tablets-treated group, low- and high-dose Naohuandan Recipe-treated groups were significantly improved as compared with those in the untreated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and such performance was the best in the high-dose Naohuandan Recipe-treated group among these four groups (P<0.01). The serum levels of SOD and GSH-Px and the expression of bcl-xl mRNA in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice in the Yinkeluo Tablets-treated group, low- and high-dose Naohuandan Recipe-treated groups were also significantly higher than those in the untreated group (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the serum level of MDA in the untreated group was higher than that in the other three groups (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Naohuandan Recipe can improve learning and memory abilities of SAM-P/8 mice, and this effect may be related to its anti-oxidation efficacy and enhancement of expression level of bcl-xl mRNA.
Li
Qing-Ming
QM
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Second Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510120, China. likehang@163.com
Meng
Rong-Sen
RS
Wei
Chang-Xiu
CX
Kan
Fang-Ju
FJ
Huang
Qi-Hui
QH
D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D051020:bcl-X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase