title: [Effects of Total Alkaloids of Harmaline on Learning and Memory in Vascular Dementia Rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of total alkaloids of harmaline on learning and memory in vascular dementia rats, and its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  The model rats of vascular dementia were established with bilateral carotid artery ligation. After 30 days, the model rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, model group, nicergoline tablets 7 mg/kg group, and 25, 12.5 and 6.25 mg/kg dose groups of total alkaloids of harmaline, the rats were given medicine for 30 days. Learning and memory abilities were tested by Morris water maze, histomorphology in hippocampal CA1 area were observed by HE staining, BAX and BCL-2 protein expression in hippocampal CA1 area were detected by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with model group, 25 mg/kg group of total alkaloids of harmaline shortened the incubation period in the third and fourth day significantly, 12.5 mg/kg group of total alkaloids of harmaline shortened the incubation period in the fourth day. 25 and 12.5 mg/kg groups of total alkaloids of harmaline significantly increased the times crossing the target. Total alkaloids of harmaline improved the neurons pathological changes of rat in the hippocampus CA1 area, 25 and 12.5 mg/kg of total alkaloids of harmaline downregulated the expression of apoptosis proteins BAX, upregulated the protein expression of BCL-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total alkaloids of harmaline can improve the learning and memory abilities in vascular dementia rats, which probably is related to inhibiting apoptosis of hippocampus cell.
authors.forename: Xiao-shuang
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-ning
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hui-ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006246:Harmaline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D006246:Harmaline