title: [Effect and mechanism of dingzhixiao wan on scopolamine-induced learning-memory impairment in mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of Dingzhixiao Wan (DZXW), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula consisting of Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala tenuifolia, Poria cocos and Panax ginseng in a proportion of 2: 2: 3: 3, on learning-memory impairment induced by scopolamine and its possible mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mice were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the positive huperzine A (0.05 mg x kg(-1)) group, DZXW 700 mg x kg(-1), 350 mg x kg(-1) and 175 mg kg(-1) groups. DZXW extracts were orally administrated to the mice for 7 days. Scopolamine (1.5 mg x kg(-1), ip) was injected to establish the learning and memory impairment model in mice. Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess the learning and memory ability of each group. After the test, the activities of glutamic acid (Glu), gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (Ach) and acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) in brain tissue were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The praxiology test showed that DZXW significantly decreased the average latency of model mice in the place navigation test, and enhanced the frequency for passing through the platform in the spatial probe test, the percentage between target quadrant swimming distance and time. Moreover, DZXW could significantly increase the contents of Glu and 5-HT, DA and Ach, while reducing the levels of GABA and AchE in mice brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DZXW could significantly ameliorate the scopolamine-induced learning-memory impairment in mice and improve their learning-memory capacity, which may be related to its effect on adjusting Glu/GABA system and increasing Ach and monoamine neurotransmitter contents in mice brain.
authors: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China. yan-juanjuan103@163.com
authors: Juan-Juan
authors: JJ
authors: Yan
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Liu
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Hu
authors: Bing-Ying
authors: BY
authors: Yu
authors: Gang-Qiang
authors: GQ
authors: Zhang
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D012601:Scopolamine; D004298:Dopamine