Objective To investigate the effects of Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules on spatial learning and memory, histopathology morphological change in hippocampus CA1 zone; To discuss its mechanism of action.Methods Three-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: model control group, positive control (donepezil 0.92 mg/kg) group, Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules high-, medium-, and low-dose groups (3, 2, 1.5 g/kg), 18 mice in each group. Another 18 three-month-old C57BL/ 6J mice were chosen as normal control group. All administration groups received relevant medicine for successive 6 months. Then the changes in learning and memory ability of mice were detected by Morris water maze test; pathomorphism in hippocampus CA1 zone was detected by HE staining method; changes of myelin sheath, microtubule, and microfilament in myelinated nerve of hippocampus CA1 zone were detected by electron microscope. Results Morris water maze test results showed that escape incubation period of APP/PS1 transgenic mice was significantly longer than the normal control group (P<0.01), and the original platform time was significantly shorter than normal control group (P<0.01); compared with model control group, Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules treatment groups escape latency time was significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Space experiments and escape incubation period of Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules high-, medium-, low-dose groups were significantly shortened (P<0.05, P<0.01), and spatial searching test showed that the times of mice in Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules high-, medium-, low-dose groups passing through effective area increased (P<0.01). The integrity of HE staining pyramidal cell layer in the hippocampus CA1 zones of Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules high-, medium-, and low-dose groups was relatively good; cells arranged orderly; distribution was normal. Electron microscopic observation showed that compared with model control group, the hippocampus neurons nuclear had irregular shape; nuclear membrane was clear and complete; chromatin was clear; nucleolus was obvious; cell matrix was uniform; organelles were abundant; mitochondrial cristae was obvious; endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes were obvious. Conclusion Abnormal Phlegmatic Temperament Granules can improve spatial learning and memory in APP/PS1 mice, alleviate neuronal ultrastructure damage and ultimately improve cognitive function.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of willed movement therapy on the expression of neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of willed movement therapy in nerve regeneration and repair.

METHODSCerebral IR model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into MCAO group, environment modification group (EM group) and willed movement therapy group (WM group). The rats were evaluated for neurological deficits and decapitated on days 3, 7 and 15 after the reperfusion to examine the expressions of NT-3 and GAP-43 in the ischemic brain tissues by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with MCAO and EM groups, the rats in WM group showed significantly lowered grade of neurological deficits (P<0.05) at 15 days and significantly increased the expressions of NT-3 and GAP-43 (P<0.05) at 7 and 15 days after the reperfusion. No significant difference was found in the expression of NT-3 and GAP-43 between MCAO and EM groups (P>0.05). The expression of NT-3 was positively correlated to that of GAP-43 in the ischemic tissues.

CONCLUSIONSWilled movement therapy increases the expression of NT-3 and GAP-43 in the ischemic brain area in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which is probably related to nerve regeneration and repair.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Movement ; physiology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurotrophin 3 ; metabolism ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of willed movement on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (SYP) in adult rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and explore the mechanism of willed movement in promoting nerve repair and regeneration.

METHODSAdult rat models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h followed by a 24-h reperfusion. The models were then divided randomly into 3 groups, namely the model group, environmental modification (EM) group, and willed movement (WM) group. In each group, neurological deficits were evaluated at 3, 7 and 15 days after reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assay were employed to examine the expression of GFAP and SYP in the brain tissue near the ischemic foci.

RESULTSThe rats in WM group showed lessened neurological deficits at 15 days and lowered expression of GFAP and SYP at 7 and 15 days after reperfusion compared with the model and EM groups (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression of GFAP or SYP between the model group and EM group at any time points.

CONCLUSIONWilled movement can promote the functional recovery of neurological deficits following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion probably in relation to enhanced GFAP and SYP expressions in the ischemic brain tissues.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism