Effects of in-vitro cultured calculus bovis on learning and memory impairments of hyperlipemia vascular dementia rats.
BACKGROUND
In-vitro cultured calculus bovis (ICCB) is a quality substitute for natural bezoar which is used for the therapeutic purpose of treating encephalopathy. ICCB has been authorized to use on clinic. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects and the potential mechanisms of in-vitro cultured calculus bovis (ICCB) on learning and memory impairments of hyperlipemia vascular dementia (HVD) rats.


METHODS
The HVD model was established by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries based on hyperlipemia rats. Learning and memory abilities were evaluated by morris water maze test and shuttle box test. Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) was employed to determine the SOD, MDA and NO in cerebral tissue, as well as the TG in serum. HE staining and toluidine blue staining were employed to evaluate cone cells damage in hippocampus CA1. An immunohistochemistry was used to measure the Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in cerebral tissue.


RESULTS
Compared with control group, the abilities of spatial learning and memory and conditional memory were decreased significantly in HVD group (P<0.01, P<0.05). MDA content in cerebral tissue was remarkably increased while the SOD activity and NO content were both decreased (P<0.01). TG content in serum was increased remarkably (P<0.01). And the cone cells in hippocampus CA1 were damaged obviously. Compared with HVD group, ICCB treatment improved the abilities of learning and memory, elevated the SOD activity (P<0.01, P<0.05), reduced the MDA content (P<0.01) as well as the TG content in serum (P<0.01), increased the NO content (P<0.01), improved the damaged cone cells in hippocampus CA1, increased the number of cones cells (P<0.01), decreased the Bax expression, and increased the Bcl-2 expression (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
ICCB could improve the abilities of learning and memory in HVD rats. It might be related to anti-oxidative, regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 expressions, and the alleviation of cone cells damage.
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: k6_zxm@sina.com.
Xiao-Ming
XM
Zhong
State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Macau University of Science and Technology, Zhuhai 519020, China. Electronic address: rxc880715@163.com.
Xue-Cong
XC
Ren
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: carllouye@sina.com.
Ye-Liang
YL
Lou
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: xin121245@sina.com.
Meng-Jing
MJ
Chen
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: li_guanze@163.com.
Guan-Ze
GZ
Li
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: gongxue_yuan123@sina.com.
Xue-Yuan
XY
Gong
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China. Electronic address: huangzhen@zcmu.edu.cn.
Zhen
Z
Huang
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001630:Bezoars; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications; D002417:Cattle; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042882:Gallstones / Q000737:chemistry*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
C494828:Bax protein, rat; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
Anti-oxidative; Bax; Bcl-2; Hyperlipemia vascular dementia; In-vitro cultured calculus bovis; Learning and memory impairments