OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Naofucong Granule (NFCG), a self-manufactured Chinese herbal preparation, on memory and cerebral cholinergic system in cerebral ischemic mice.

METHODSMice model of learning/memory impairment was established by bilateral ligation of internal carotid arteries. The memory ability of mice was assessed by measuring latent period in the Morris Water Maze.

RESULTSSeven days after modeling, the latent period and swimming course of mice (82.3 +/- 32.0 seconds and 986.7 +/- 414.5 cm) were longer than those of control (sham-operated mice, 35.3 +/- 37.9 seconds and 410.4 +/- 507.0 cm, P < 0.01). Administration of NFCG could ameliorate these changes to 30.6 +/- 31.3 seconds and 378.1 +/- 386.3 cm (P < 0.01) and normalized. In the model animals, the choline acetylase activity in brain cortex and hippocampus was 35.64 +/- 4.96 and 45.08 +/- 4.96 respectively, which was significantly lower than that in the control (40.52 +/- 4.74 and 53.96 +/- 8.53); so was the activity of cholinergic receptor M in cerebral cortex (44.41 +/- 10.67 vs 57.56 +/- 6.98) and the activity of cholinergic receptor N in cerebral cortex and hippocampus (232.41 +/- 21.99 and 303.72 +/- 72 +/- 28.78 vs 276.66 +/- 32.46 and 385.56 +/- 46.88), P < 0.05 or P < 0.01. Administration of NFCG also could reverse them and elevate to normal level.

CONCLUSIONNFCG has protective function on intellectual deficits in cerebral ischemic mice, which may be related to its action in enhancing function of cholinergic system.