Effects of Compatibility of Radix Ginseng and Radix Scutellariae on Brain Energy in Multi-infarct Dementia Rats Induced by Thrombus Injection / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the effects of compatibility of Radix Ginseng and Radix Scutellariae (CRH) on learning and memory ability in multi-infarct dementia (MID) model rats and to explore the mechanism from the perspective of brain energy. Methods: We established MID rat model by thrombus injection, and learning and memory ability of MID rats was evaluated by Morris water maze; HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 region of rats; the contents of ATP, ADP and AMP in brain tissues were determined by highperformance liquid chromatography; flow cytometry was used to detect the changes of mitochondrial swelling and mitochondrial membrane potential in hippocampus of rats. Results: Compared with the rats in model group, the escape latency was significantly shortened in both high and low dose groups (P ＜ 0.05) . The times of crossing the platform were increased in both high and low dose groups (P ＜ 0.05) . The disorder of cell arrangement and loss of number of cell layers were significantly improved in high and low dose groups (P ＜ 0.05) . The degree of mitochondria swelling was significantly reduced in low dose group (P ＜ 0.05) . The decreasing trend of mitochondrial membrane potential was improved (P ＜0.05), and the energy charge of brain tissue was increased in high dose group rats (P ＜ 0.05) . Conclusion: CRH improved the cognitive decline and increased the concentration of energy charge in MID rats which was in relation to protect mitochondrial damage and improve brain energy, and further protect neurons.