OBJECTIVETo establish a convenient, economical and practical analogous oxidative damaged Alzheimer's disease rat model (AD model) for exploring the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on the spatial memory capacity and beta-amyloid protein (A beta) deposition in the model.

METHODSThe AD model was established by left ventricular injection of DHF-FeCl3-ADP. Spatial memory and learning capacity of the model rat was observed by Morris water maze method, A beta deposition in its cerebral cortex was observed by immunohistochemistry, and the effect of TXR was analysed.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the spatial memory capacity in the model group was obviously decreased, with A beta widely deposited in cortex, immunohistochemical examination showed that the number of A beta positive cells and their mean optic density significantly increased. TXR displayed significantly improving effect on the above-mentioned changes.

CONCLUSIONThe oxidative damaged model could not only express the clinical characteristics (short-term memory impairment), but also partially reflex the pathological changes (A beta deposition) of AD, is an economical and practical analogous AD model. TXR has the effects of improving spatial memory impairment and lowering A beta deposition in the AD model rats.