ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the dynamical variation of the hippocampal neurotrophic factors (NTF) in elderly rats with postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) and the antifatigue mechanism of ginsengside Rb1. Methods: Ninety-six elderly male SD rats were randomly divided into Sham, POFS model, and ginsengoside Rb1 intervention groups, and each group was divided into subgroups by postoperative 6 h, 1, 3, and 7 d. The hippocampus was removed at each time point after open field test (OFT) to detect the mRNA expression levels of nerve growth factors (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) by Real-time PCR; The content of protein was detected by radioimmunoassay; The ultrastructural changes in hippocampus CA1 area were observed by electron microscopy. Results: Compared with the Sham group, the number through lattice in OFT of rats in the POFS model group declined (P < 0.01), while resting time increased (P < 0.01); The expression level of NGF and BDNF mRNA in the POFS model group declined (P < 0.05, 0.01), the expression level of corresponding protein declined (P < 0.05). Compared with the POFS model group, the number through lattice in OFT of rats in the Rb1 group increased (P < 0.05), the expression level of NGF and BDNF mRNA of rats in Rb1 group increased (P < 0.05, 0.01), and the expression level of corresponding protein also increased (P < 0.01). Electron microscopy results showed that compared with the Sham group, the ultrastructures of the hippocampal neurons of rats were significantly damaged in the POFS model group, which were relatively impromed in the Rb1 group. Conclusion: The expression level of NTF inelderly rats with POFS declines, the hippocampal neurons are damaged to a certain extent and the application of ginsenoside Rb1 may have the improvement to POFS in elderly rats.