Neuroprotective effects of Tongmai Yizhi Decoction () against Alzheimer's disease through attenuating cyclin-dependent kinase-5 expression / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To explore the protective effects of Tongmai Yizhi Decoction (, TYD), a Chinese herb complex prescription against the impairment of cognitive functions and memory loss in amyloid beta 1-40 (Aβ) peptide and ibotenic (IBO)-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The in vivo model was established by injecting Aβand IBO into left hippocampal CA1 area of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat to mimic AD. Totally 32 SD rats were divided into 4 groups, including sham operation group, AD model group, TYD group [AD rats treated with TYD at the dosage of 19.44 g/(kg•d) for 4 weeks] and huperzine A group [AD rats treated with huperzine A at the dosage of 40.5 μg/(kg•d) for 4 weeks]. Spatial learning and memory level was detected by Morris Water Maze test. Histological morphology in the hippocampus was tested by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5) protein and gene expression level were investigated by Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Aβ1-40 and IBO treatment induced longer escape latency of rats, compared with sham operation group from day 25 (P<0.01). However, TYD and huperzine A obviously shortened the escape latency from day 26 (P<0.01). Moreover, the effect of TYD was similar to huperzine A (P>0.05). Furthermore, HE staining also showed that TYD and huperzine A reversed the neuropathological changes in the hippocampus triggered by Aβ1-40 and IBO. TYD and huperzine A effectively reduced the expression levels of Cdk5 protein and gene located in rat hippocampus, compared with the AD model group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TYD could be a promising neuroprotective agent for protecting neuron from AD injury through inhibiting Cdk5 expression.</p>

The establishment of research inherit mode of famous academic thoughts / 中国中西医结合杂志

To study and summarize the academic thoughts of famous Chinese medicine doctors is the main pathway of developing Chinese medicine theories. It is of important significance in enriching and developing the Chinese medicine theories by combining traditional and modern research methods, merging multiple disciples to study the research inherit mode of famous academic thoughts. The major study links include: (1) To refine scientific hypotheses from huge amount of clinical case records; (2) To find the literature sources; (3) To embody the practice significance of the innovative theories by clinical studies; (4) To reveal the scientific connotation of Chinese medicine theories by experimental studies. We hope to reach the goal of innovating and developing Chinese medicine theories on the basis of inheritance by integrating clinical case records, tracing the literature sources, clinical and experimental studies.