RESUMO
Objective:To explore the effect of enriched environment on spatial learning and memory of mice after ischemic stroke and the expression of apoptotic regulatory protein Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampus. Methods:Clean grade adult male C57BL/6 mice (n = 42) were occluded left middle cerebral artery permanently. Three days after operation, the modeling mice were randomly divided into standard group (n = 16) and enriched environment group (n = 16). Other eight mice were as sham group. The sham group and the standard group were fed in standard environment, while the enriched group was fed in enriched environment. They were tested with Morris Water Maze 21 days after intervention, and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax protein in hippocampus was detected with Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Results:The latency was less in the enriched group than in the standard group (P < 0.05), and the time and swimming distance staying in the target quadrant were more (P < 0.05), as well as the times crossing the target quadrant (P < 0.05). Compared with the standard group, the expression of Bcl-2 increased in the enriched group, while the expression of Bax decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Enriched environment can improve the spatial learning and memory of mice after ischemic stroke, which may be associated with reducing apoptosis in hippocampus.