OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on the level of synaptophysin ptotein in brain in rat model with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODThe AD rat models were established by intra-peritoneal injection of D-galactose combined with excitatory neurotoxin ibotenic acid injection into bilateral nbM. The activity and content of synaptophysin protein in brain were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis.

RESULTPNS could reduce the lesion of level of synaptophysin protein in brain, as compared with those of model group's rats.

CONCLUSIONPNS plays a protective role by reducing down of the level of synaptophysin protein in brain in lesion of AD animal model.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Basal Nucleus of Meynert ; drug effects ; pathology ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Galactose ; toxicity ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ibotenic Acid ; toxicity ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism