This study was aimed to observe the effect of Yang-Xue Qing-Nao(YXQN) granules on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in CA1area of hippocampus among vascular dementia (VD) rats.A total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,VD model group (model group) and YXQN treatment group (treatment group).The VD rat model was prepared by modified Pulsineli's four-vessel occlusion.The learning and memory abilities of rats were detected by the Morris water maze.The protein expressions of BDNF and bFGF were detected by the immunohistochemical analysis.The results showed that compared with the sham operation group,there was obvious learning and memory disorders in the model group with increased protein expressions of BDNF and bFGF in CA1 area of hippocampus at difference time points (P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the learning and memory abilities of rats in the treatment group were significantly improved; and the protein expressions of BDNF and bFGF in CA1 area of hippocampus were significantly increased at difference time points (P<0.01).The expression was the highest on the 4th week.It was concluded that YXQN granules can improve the learning and memory abilities of VD rats.Its mechanism may be related to the upregulation of protein expression of BDNF and bFGF.

Objective To observe the effect of Yangxue Qingnao Granule on the ultrastructures and expression of p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) in CA1 area of hippocampus in vascular dementia rats. Methods 180 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly di-vided into sham group, vascular dementia model group (model group) and Yangxue Qingnao Granule treatment group (treatment group). The vascular dementia was modeled with modified Pulsineli's four-vessel occlusion. The ultrastructure of CA1 area was observed with trans-mission electron microscope, while the expression of p38MAPK in CA1 area was detected with immunohistochemstry and Western blotting 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after modeling. Results In the model group, pyknosis, nuclear dissolution, heterochromatin margination and mitochon-dria swelling were found in most of the neurons in CA1. In the treatment group, the distribution of chromatin was well-proportioned, and mi-tochondrion and other organelle were normal. In the model group, the expression of p38MAPK increased at each time point compared with the sham group (P<0.01), and peaked 4 weeks after modeling, and decreased in the treatment group compared with the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion Yangxue Qingnao Granule can improve the ultrastructure of neuronal in CA1 area of hippocampus of vascular dementia rats, which may relate with the inhibition of the expression of p38MAPK.

This study was aimed to observe the effect ofYang-Xue Qing-Nao(YXQN) granules on expressions of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) andβ-catenin in CA1 area of hippocampus among vascular dementia (VD) rats. A total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, VD group (model group) and the YXQN granules treatment group (treatment group). The VD rat model was prepared by modified Pulsineli’s four-vessel occlusion. The expressions of GSK-3β andβ-catenin in CA1 area of hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting at the 1st week, 2nd week, 4th weeks and 8th week after VD model operation. The results showed that expressions of GSK-3βwere increased in the model group at different time points, which were many quantities of expression at the 1st week, and a large number of expressions at the 2nd week. It reached peak at the 4th week; and began to decline but still higher at the 8th week. Compared with the sham operation group, the expression of GSK-3β was significantly increased in the model group at different time points (P < 0.01). The expression ofβ-catenin was increased in the model group at different time points. However, there was no statistical significance compared with the sham operation group (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, expressions of GSK-3β andβ-catenin were significantly increased in the treatment group at different time points (P < 0.01). It was concluded that YXQN granules upregulated the expression of GSK-3β andβ-catenin, which may be helpful to VD treatment.