ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the protective effect of Huayu Qutan decoction on vascular dementia (VD) gerbils and to explore whether its mechanism is related to Calcium ion-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMKⅡ)/cyclic adenosine effect element binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway. Method: Forty healthy gerbils were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, low, medium and high dose groups (5.35, 10.7, 21.4 g·kg-1) of removing blood stasis and expelling phlegm. Eight gerbils in each group were divided into model group and removing blood stasis and expelling phlegm group. Gerbils were given corresponding drugs twice a day after operation. Water maze experiment was conducted 21 days later to investigate the spatial learning and memory ability of gerbils. The expression of p-CaMKⅡ/CaMKⅡ, p-CREB/CREB and BDNF in the hippocampus of gerbils were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Result: Compared with sham operation group, the incubation period and the number of platform trips of gerbil in the model group were significantly reduced, p-CaMKⅡ/CaMKⅡ, p-CREB/CREB, and BDNF protein expression were significantly reduced (PPPConclusion: Huayu Qutan decoction improves the learning and memory abilities of gerbils with vascular dementia, and its mechanism may be related to the activation of CaMKⅡ/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.