The effects of an herbal medicine Bu-Wang-San on learning and memory of ovariectomized female rat.
BACKGROUND
Bu-Wang-San (BWS) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of learning and memory impairment. The effect of BWS on neuroprotection and how BWS increases CA1 dendritic spine synapse density in menopaused women was investigated in the model of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.


METHODS
Sixteen OVX rats were divided into two groups, the OVX group and OVX+BWS group. After 3 months, Morris water maze was used to assess spatial acquisition and spatial retention. Swim time, swim distance, swim speed, quadrant time and platform crossing were recorded. The ultrastructure of the pyramidal cell and spine synapse density were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).


RESULTS
In the spatial acquisition and spatial retention phase of testing, BWS group functioned significantly better than control group. Ultrastructural observation of the hippocampal CA1 region of OVX group showed swelling of mitochondria, the broken and reduced cristas and even crista dissolution; however, the mitochondria were protected well in BWS group. In addition, BWS significantly increased spine synapse density.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that BWS could improve cognitive ability of menopause-induced learning and memory impairment. The positive effect of BWS on rat learning and memory was associated with increase of spinal synapse density and protection of mitochondrial function of the pyramidal cell in hippocampal CA1 region from menopause-induced injury.
Li
Hui
H
Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, PR China.
Li
Shu-Ling
SL
Gong
Li
L
Wang
Jiu-Ling
JL
Li
Yu-Zhu
YZ
Wu
Zhi-Hong
ZH
D000818:Animals; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000523:psychology*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations; C532052:bu-wang-san