ABSTRACT
METHODS: Rats received a hibateral intracerebroventricular fusion of Aβ25-35. Tetramethylpyrazine was administrated through i.v. injection at 20 and 60 mg��kg-1��d-1 for 21 d. The expression of RAGE and inflammatory factors(including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α)were assessed immunohistochemical and ELISA, respectively. Further, an AD cell model (primary cultured hippocampal neurons of SD neonatal rats) and a RAGE-over expressing cell model(primary cultured hippocampal neurons transfected with pCMV/hygro-RAGE) were used for investigating the mechanisms of tetramethylpyrazine's effects. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was identified by DCFH-DA staining. Real time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot method were employed to detect the transcriptional level(RAGE)and phosphorylation of targeted proteins (including ERK1/2, p38, IκB) in all groups.