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Kaixin Powder, an ancient Chinese herbal decoction and is composed of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygalae Radix, Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and Poria Cocos. Its main active chemical components are ginseng ginsenosides, polygalae saponins, oligosaccharide esters, asarone, poria acid, and pachymaran, which have a variety of pharmacological effects such as anti-depression, anti-dementia, improving learning and memory, and anti-fatigue. This article mainly reviewed the literature related to Kaixin Powder published in domestic and foreign research journals, summarized the research on the pharmacological activity and their mechanisms of Kaixin Powder, and prospected the potential clinical application in the treatment of mental illness.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA) on learning and memory ability and possible mechanisms in rats with chronic alcoholism.@*METHODS@#Sixty SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups on average.The model group rats and the remedy group rats were fed with the water containing (v/v) 6% alcohol for 28 days.After 14 days, the remedy group rats were treated with AOAA (5 mg/kg·d) by intraperitoneal injection once a day for 14 days and the other two group rats were treated with the equal amount of saline by intraperitoneal injection every day.Five days before the end of the experiment, the water maze test was carried out to test the learning and memory ability of rats for 5 days.Subsequently, the content of HS, the activity of ATP enzyme and the expression of 5-HT in hippocampus were measured.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the rats in the control group, the latency and the swimming distance of the 2nd to the 4th day, the content of HS in hippocampus of rats in the model group were all increased, the mitochondrial ATP enzyme activity in hippocampus and the positive expression of 5-HT in hippocampus CA1 and CA3 of rats in the model group were decreased (<0.01).Compared with the rats in the model group, the latency and the swimming distance of the 2nd to the 4th day, the content of HS in hippocampus of the rats in the remedy group were decreased, the mitochondrial ATP enzyme activity in hippocampus and the positive expression of 5-HT in hippocampus CA1 and CA3 of rats in the model group were increased (<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#AOAA could alleviate the symptoms of chronic alcoholism rats, which may be related to the effects of AOAA on the content of HS, the mitochondrial enzyme activity and the expression of 5-HT in hippocampus.
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Animals , Male , Rats , Alcoholism , Aminooxyacetic Acid , Hippocampus , Learning , Maze Learning , Memory , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effects of chronic restraint stress (CRS) on the abilities of spatial learning and memory and the levels of excitatory amino acids in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) in the old rats,and to investigate the neurochemical mechanism of CRS in affecting the spatial learning and memory abilities.Methods:Sixteen male SD rats (18 months old) were randomly divided into control group (n =8) and CRS group (n=8),and the rats in CRS group received CRS 2 h every day for 30 d.And then the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by Morris water maze (MWM) test,and the extracellular levels of excitatory amino acids including asparate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) in the DG were simultaneously determined by in vivo microdialysis and HPLC.The levels of corticosterone (CORT) and epinephrine (EPI) in serum of the rats wereexamined by ELISA assay.Results:In CRS group,the escape latencies on the 2nd-4th days were significantly increased and the percentage of time spent in target quadrant on the 5th day was markedly decreased in MWM test compared with control group (P＜0.05).Compared with before training,the extracelluar level of Asp in the DG in control group was significantly increased on the 2nd day in MWM test;compared with control group,the extracelluar level of Asp in the DG in CRS group was significantly decreased on the 3rd day in MWM test (P＜0.05).Compared with before training,the Glu levels in the DG in MWM test in both control and CRS groups were markedly increased (P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between two groups (P＞0.05).Compared with control group,the levels of CORT and EPI in the serum of the rats in CRS group were significantly increased (P＜0.05).Conclusion:CRS impairs the spatial learning and memory abilities in the old rats,which may be related to the decrease of Asp level in the hippicampal DG of the rats.
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Objective: To explore the effects of chronic restraint stress (CRS) on the abilities of spatial learning and memory and the levels of excitatory amino acids in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) in the old rats, and to investigate the neurochemical mechanism of CRS in affecting the spatial learning and memory abilities. Methods: Sixteen male SD rats (18 months old) were randomly divided into control group (n=8) and CRS group (n=8), and the rats in CRS group received CRS 2 h every day for 30 d. And then the spatial learning and memory abilities of rats were measured by Morris water maze (MWM) test, and the extracellular levels of excitatory amino acids including asparate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) in the DG were simultaneously determined by in vivo microdialysis and HPLC. The levels of corticosterone (CORT) and epinephrine (EPI) in serum of the rats were examined by ELISA assay. Results: In CRS group, the escape latencies on the 2nd-4th days were significantly increased and the percentage of time spent in target quadrant on the 5th day was markedly decreased in MWM test compared with control group (P0. 05). Compared with control group, the levels of CORT and EPI in the serum of the rats in CRS group were significantly increased (P<0. 05). Conclusion: CRS impairs the spatial learning and memory abilities in the old rats, which may be related to the decrease of Asp level in the hippicampal DG of the rats.
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Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) in repairing oxidative nerve cells,and to study the antioxidant capacity of PQQ on the oxidative damage of rats caused by apolexis,as well as the effects on learning and memory abilities of apolexis rats.Methods Oxidative damage of PC12 was induced by H2O2,and the repairing rate of PQQ on oxidative PC12 cells was tested by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay kit.The 18-month-old male SD rats were administered PQQ (0,10,20,40 mg/kg).After 4 weeks,Morris water maze test was used to test the learning and memory ability.After 6 weeks,serum and brain tissue related indicators and antioxidant capacity were recorded.Results The survival rate of PC12 cells increased from 59.1％ to 90.5％ with 200 nmol/L PQQ.Compared with the apolexis model group,the latency of the PQQ group (20,40 mg/kg) was shortened in the Morris water maze experiment,the swimming distance was reduced,pass-through counts were increased,and the first secure platform pass-through was reduced.Meanwhile,the levels of malondialdehyde and lipofuscin in serum and brain tissue of PQQ group decreased,the levels of superoxide dismutase,glutathione peroxidase vitality,antioxidant capacity of PQQ group (20,40 mg/kg) were enhanced.Conclusion PQQ could repair the oxidative damage of nerve cells,and it was confirmed that PQQ could play the same antioxidant effect in body and brain,and increase the learning and memory ability of apolexis rats.
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Aim ToexploretheeffectsofnewdrugT-006 on improving learning and memory abilities in scopolamine-induced dementia mice and its possible mechanism.Methods 72maleKunmingmicewere randomly divided into six groups:normal control group,model group,donepezil treatment group,T -006 treatment group with different doses(1,3 and 10 mg·kg-1 ).All mice were treated by intragastric ad-ministration for 14 consecutive days. Learning and memory abilities were tested by a five-day Morris water maze trial from the 1 1 th day.the first 4 days of the five-day Morris water maze,the navigation test was performed,the last day of Morris water maze is the spatial probe test.During the navigation test, mice were intraperitoneally given 2 mg · kg-1 scopolamine 20 minutes before entering the water,while normal control group mice administrated with sterile saline in-stead.Mice were not given T-006 nor scopolamine in spatial probe test.After Morris water maze,all mice were sacrificed for hippocampus and cortex.The activi-ties of AchE and SOD and the levels of GSH and MDA in hippocampus and cortex were measured after tissue harvesting.Results Comparedwithmodelgroup,T-006 could obviously improve learning and memory abil-ities in scopolamine-induced mice, significantly in-crease the levels of SOD and GSH and decrease the levelsofMDAandAchE.Conclusion T-006can significantly improve cognitive abilities in scopolamine-induced dementia mice,and its relevant mechanism may be closely related to its antioxidative effect and the ability to decrease AchE level.
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Objective To observe the effects of kidney-tonifying therapy on spatial learning, memory abilities and ultrastructure of hippocampal dentate gyrus ( DG ) cells of kidney deficiency rats induced by sexual intemperance. Methods SD rats with low reproductive capacity were caused by continuously mating for 6 months, and then were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely model group, low- and high-dose of Liuwei Dihuang pills (LDP) groups (in the dosage of 4.8, 9.6 g·kg-1·d-1), low-and high-dose of Jingui Shenqi pills (JSP) group (in the dosage of 5.2, 10.4 g·kg-1·d-1), 8 rats in each group. Except the model group, the other groups were respectively given with the corresponding medication. SD rats aged 2 months served as the normal control group. After treatment for 30 continuous days, the learning and memory abilities of rats were examined by Morris Water Maze. The cell ultra structure of hippocampal dentate gyrus was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results The results of the place navigation test of Morris water maze showed that the escape latency of rats was prolonged obviously in the model group compared with that of the normal control group (P<0.01), and the escape latency of rats in the medication groups was shorter than the kidney deficiency model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of spatial probe test showed that the residence time in the former hidden platform quadrant and its surrounding area was significantly shortened in the model group compared with that of the normal control group ( P<0.01) , but was prolonged after medication of high-dose JSP ( P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with that of the model group). Under the electron microscope, the cell ultra structure lesions of hippocampal dentate gyrus were much relieved in the high-dose LDP group, and high-dose JSP group as compared with those of the model group. Conclusion ( 1) Long-term sexual intemperance can impair spatial learning and memory abilities and causes the cell ultra structure lesions of hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats. (2) The kidney-tonifying therapy can significantly alleviate the spatial learning and memory disturbance and the cell ultra structure lesions of hippocampal dentate gyrus induced by sexual intemperance. ( 3) There are not significant differences between the two kidney-tonifying therapies in improving spatial learning and relieving cell ultra structure lesions. The effect of JSP on improving spatial memory abilities is better than that of LDP.
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Aim To investigate the effect of preventive administration of icariin on learning and memory abili-ties and brain mitochondrial oxidative stress in senes-cence-accelerated mouse prone8 ( SAMP8 ) . Methods The 6-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomly divid-ed into the SAMP8 model group, ICA groups (75, 150 mg · kg-1 ) , the positive Diethylstilbestrol ( DES ) group and estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780 com-bined with ICA (150 mg·kg-1 ) group, with 8 mice in each group. 8 same month old SAMR1 mice were selected as the normal control group. After oral admin-istration for 8 weeks, Morris water maze test and step-down passive test were used to investigate the effects of preventive administration of ICA on learning and mem-ory abilities in SAMP8 mice. Cerebral cortex mitochon-dria were isolated to determine the effect of preventive administration of ICA on the oxidative stress by detec-ting reactive oxygen species ( ROS) level, lipid perox-ides ( MDA ) content, glutathione GSH content and catalase ( CAT ) activity. Results Preventive treat-ment of ICA could significantly improve the abilities of place navigation and space exploration of SAMP8 mice, enhance their reflex ability in step-down passive test. ICA could also reduce the level of ROS and MDA content, increase GSH content in brain mitochondria of SAMP8 mice. CAT activity was not obviously changed. Compared with ICA high dose group, the learning and memory abilities of mice in ICA and estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182780 co-administrated group were signif-icantly decreased. However,brain mitochondria oxida-tive stress was not changed obviously. Conclusion Preventive administration of icariin can significantly improve learning and memory abilities and brain mito-chondrial oxidative stress in SAMP8 mice. The mecha-nism of ICA improving learning and memory abilities may be related to its estrogen-like effect;while the ac-tion on brain mitochondrial oxidative stress may be in-dependent of estrogen receptor.
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Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Tianzhusan (TZS) on the related indexes of learning and memory impairment of rats with vascular dementia (VD) caused by cerebral ischemia. Methods: The rats' models were prepared by a permanent ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. After ig administration for 63 d, the learning and memory abilities of rats were observed with Morris water maze, the pathological changes in hippocampus were detected with HE staining and Nissl staining, and the expression levels of microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and synaptophysin-1 (SYN-1) in hippocampus were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results: The latent period of rats in the model group was longer than that in the control group obviously (P < 0.05). However, the latent period of rats in Nimodipine and TZS groups was shortened after ig administration by different degrees. HE staining showed that the neuronal cells appeared necrosis and deformation in CA1 and CA3 areas of hippocampus of rats in the model group, while Nimodipine and TZS could reduce these injuries. Nissl staining showed that TZS could increase the number of Nissl bodies in CA1 and CA3 areas of hippocampus. Nimodipine and TZS could improve the expression level of MAP-2 in hippocampus. The rats in the model group had a high expression of SYN-1 in CA1 and dentate gyrus areas, but a low expression in CA3 area. Nevertheless, TZS could increase the expression of SYN-1 in CA3 area. Conclusion: TZS could improve the learning and memory abilities of VD rats by relieving the damage of neuronal cell, promoting the synthesis of neurotransmitters, and regulating the expression levels of MAP-2 and SYN-1.
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Objective To study the influence of postnatal high protein feeding on learning and memory abilities of preterm rats.Methods After weaning,the SD offspring were divided into 6 groups randomly according random digits table:preterm standard protein group (group A),term standard protein group (group B),preterm low protein group (group C),term low protein group (group D),preterm high protein group (group E),and term high protein group (group F),with 34 rats in each group.Starting from 22 days of age,the standard protein group,low-protein group and the high-protein group were respectively fed with a standard protein diet (containing 18％ protein),low-protein diet (containing 8％ protein) and a high-protein diet (containing 30％ protein) until the end of experiment.Within each group,the rats were respectively tested in 6 weeks and 8 weeks.Morris water maze task was performed to assess the learning and memory abilities of the premature rats.Results 1.Directional navigation experiments:(1) At the age of 6 weeks,the escape latencies to find the platform were shortened with increased training times for full-term rats.The escape latencies of the premature rats did not change significantly on the third and fourth day of the experiment.(2) At the age of 8 weeks,the escape latencies to find the platform were shortened with increased training time for all of the rats.2.Probe trial test:(1)At the age of 6 weeks,premature rats spent significantly less time in target quadrant than full-time rats.And the percent age of traveled distance in target quadrant of premature rats was significantly less than full term rats (P ＜ 0.05).(2) At the age of 8 weeks,group E [(68.48 ± 20.65) s] spent significantly greater time in target quadrant than group A and group C [group A(52.41 ± 11.24) s,group C (49.54 ± 11.04) s].And the percent age of traveled distance in target quadrant of group E [(36.56 ± 10.44) ％] were significantly higher than group A and group C [group A (29.83 ± 8.33) ％,group C (26.97 ± 5.41) ％] (P ＜ 0.05).(3) At the age of 8 weeks,group E spent time in target quadrant and the percent of traveled distance in target quadrant [(68.48 ± 20.65) s,(36.56 ±10.44)％] were higher than group F [(61.29 ± 16.27) s,(35.71 ±6.61)％],but there was no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions In the early growth and development process of the brain,premature birth may seriously affect early brain functions in rats,and the learning and cognitive abilities of the premature rats are worse than full-term rats.In the subsequent process of growth and development,after a long time of high protein nutritional intake,the learning and cognitive abilities of the premature rats can be restored and they can catch up with full-term rats.
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Objective The study was to evaluate the behavioral differences in learning and memory abilities among three ani -mal models of Alzheimer′s disease. Methods Three SD rat models(n=20) were used in this study.The first SD rat model was es-tablished by intracerebral injection of Aβ25-35 into the bilateral hippocampus , the second mouse model was induced by intraperitoneal in-jection of scopolamine and the third was a senescence accelerated mouse model .Morris Water maze test was performed to investigate behavioral differences by comparison to corresponding blank control groups ( sham operation group , blank group and P8 group ) . Results The learning and memory abilities of senescence accelerated rats and scopolamine -treated rats were worse than those of the corresponding control groups, especially the scopolamine-treated rat ([35.47 ±3.78]s vs [50.61 ±3.94]s, P0.05). Conclusion The model of Alzheimer′s disease in-duced by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine represents more distinct changes in learning and memory abilities .Morris water maze test can be used to well evaluate whether the scopolamine-induced model is successfully established or not .
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This study was aimed to observe effects of Albizia Julibrissin Flower Total Flavonoids (AJFTF) on the learning and memory abilities and plasma monoamine neurotransmitters 5-HT and NE content of depression model rats . A total of 90 SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group , model group , western medicine group ( Venlafaxine Hydrochloride 0 . 0125 g?kg-1 ) and high , middle and low dosage groups of AJFTF ( equivalent to the crude drug of 10 , 5 , 2 . 5 g?kg-1 ) . Depression model rats were induced by solitary cultiva-tion and chronic unpredictable stress . The learning and memory abilities of model rats were evaluated with the Morris water maze . And the plasma contents of 5-HT and NE were determined by enzyme-linked immunosor-bent assay ( ELISA ) . The results showed that AJFTF ( administered with high , middle and low dosage for 21 days ) significantly shortened the incubation period of the Morris water maze positioning and navigation ( P <0 . 05 or P < 0 . 01 ) , and increased the times of crossing the platform in space exploration ( P < 0 . 05 or P <0 . 01 ) . There was a certain dose-effect relationship . The AJFTF ( high , middle and low dosage ) increased the plasma contents of 5-HT and NE ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It was concluded that AJFTF can improve learning and memory abilities of depression model rats which indicates that AJFTF have potential antidepressant effects . Its action mechanism may be related to increase plasma monoamine neurotransmitter content of 5-HT and NE .
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Objective To investigate the effect of 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) on learning and memory abilities in vascular demensia (VD) rats. Methods VD model rats was established by two-vessel method. 60 3-month-old Wistar male rats were randomly divided into VD group, sham-operate group and NBP group. Rats in NBP group were given NBP 120 mg · kg-1 · d-1 ,VD and sham-operate group were given equal quality vegetable oil.Morris water maze was used to assess the learning and memory abilities in each group and HE staining was used to observe the hippocampus morphology of the rats. Results The escape latency in hidden plat test was( (38.34 ±2.46 ) s, ( 14.83 ± 3.77s ), ( 75.74 ± 6.33 ) s ) and the original platform quadrant time was ( ( 26.45 ± 4.66 ) s,(35.21 ±3.78)s, ( 18.67 ±5.39)s) in NBP group,sham-operate group and VD group respectively. Compared to VD group, NBP group had obviously decreased escape latency in hidden plat test, increased original platform quadrant time and distinctly decreased the necrosis of the neurons in HE dyeing. Conclusion NBP can improve the learning and memory deficits in VD rats.
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Objective To study the learning and memory abilities together with the morphological changes in astrocyte and neuron in the hippocampal CA3 area in mice induced by chronic cadmium exposure. Methods Twenty Kunming mice aged 4-5 months were selected by Y-maze and randomly divided into two groups. The cadmium exposed group treated with cadmium (CdCl2,2 mg/kg) by subcutaneous injection,twice a week for 3 consecutive months,and the normal control group were injected with the equal dose of saline. The learning and memory abilities were detected by Y-maze after 3 months of treatment. The structure of astrocytes and neurons in CA3 area of hippocampus were observed under light microscope,and the quantitatively analysis was performed by cell morphometric technique. Results Compared with the control group,learning and memory capacity determined by Y-maze test in the cadmium exposed group were lower (P
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Objective:To apply two dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) to initially analyze the protein expression in hippocampus of rats with spleen yin deficiency syndrome and to get the theory foundation for investigating the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease and spleen yin deficiency syndrome.Methods:Rats model of spleen yin deficiency were set up by combination of improper diet,overstrain and consumption of body fluid.Qualitative changes of the proteome expression in hippocampus were compared between the model group and control group by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.Results:The model group of spleen yin deficiency had the appearance of spleen yin deficiency,for example,irritability,increment in biting frequency,increase of rectal temperature and drinking water(P
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OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of LYS polysaccharides on learning & memory and monoamine neurotrans-mitter content in SAMP8 brain.METHODS:50 6-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomized to 5 groups(10 in each group):SAMP8 group,huperzine A control group,low-,mid-and high-dose groups of polysaccharides.Another 10 6-month-old SAMR1 mice were assigned to normal control group.After medication for 40 days,the learning and memory abilities of mice in each group were detected with Morris water maze method.The norepinephrine(NE),dopamine(DA) and 5-HT contents in brain were determined by HPLC.RESULTS:The learning and memory abilities of SAMP8 group decreased significantly,and the NE,DA and 5-HT contents in brain decreased significantly compared with normal group(P