Effect of herbal formula GAPT on cholinergic system in mice with scopolamine?induced memory impairment / 中国实验动物学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of a Chinese medicine formula GAPT, a combination containing Chinese herbs ginseng,Acorus tatarinowii, Polygala and tuber curcuma, on the behavior and cholinergic system in mice with scopolamine-induced memory impairment, and to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of GAPT. Methods ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control group(solution of 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose, CMC), model group (0.5% CMC),positive control group(donepezil, 0.92 mg/(kg·d)), GAPT high, medium and low dose groups(20 mg/(kg·d),10 mg/(kg·d),5 mg/(kg·d)),18 mice in each group, were given intragastric gavage once a day for 30 days. After the last administration,the control group and model group received intraperitoneal injection of normal saline,and the other groups intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine(3 mg/(kg·d)), dissolved in 0.9% normal saline. Morris water maze test was performed to assess the learning and memmory ability. Then the mice were killed and the Ach content and AchE and ChAT activity in the cortex and hippocampus were detected. Results GAPT increased the swimming dis-tance,swimming time and the residence time in target quadrant of the model mice,increased the content of Ach and the ac-tivity of ChAT,and decreased the activity of AchE in the brain of the model group. Conclusions GAPT can improve the learning and memory ability of mice induced by scopolamine,and its mechanism may be related to cholinergic system.