ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of EGCG-Zn chelated by epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and Zn ion on learn-ing,memory and antioxidant abilities in vascular dementia(VD)rats. METHODS:Rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group,zinc gluconate group (positive control,70 mg/kg),EGCG group (5 mg/kg),and EGCG-Zn low-dose,mid-dle-dose,high-dose groups (2,5,10 mg/kg),10 in each group. The VD models were induced by middle cerebral artery occlu-sion. The rats were intragastrically given relevant medicines after 7 d of modeling,once a day,for 28 d. Morris water maze were used to evaluate learning and memory abilities of rats. Spectrophotometric method was adopted to detect the superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase(CAT),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activities and malondialdehyde(MDA)content in brain tissue of rats. RESULTS:Compared with sham group,escape latency was extended in model group,percentage of platform quadrant swimming distance(dP/dT)was reduced(P<0.01);SOD,CAT,GSH-Px activities in brain tissue were reduced,and MDA content was in-creased (P<0.01). Compared with model group,escape latency on 4th d of recording was obviously shortened in EGCG group and EGCG-Zn dose groups,dP/dT was obviously increased and dose-depended(P<0.05 or P<0.01);SOD,CAT,GSH-Px activi-ties in brain tissue were increased,MDA content was decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01)and dose-depended. Compared with EGCG group and zinc gluconate group,escape latency was obviously shortened in EGCG-Zn dose groups,dP/dT was increased;SOD, CAT,GSH-Px activities in brain tissue were increased,MDA content was decreased;and the effects in high-dose,medium-dose groups were more obvious(P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:EGCG-Zn can improve the learning,memory and antioxidant abilities in VD rats,and the effect is superior to EGCG.