Effects of Xiatianwu total alkaloids on learning and memory impairment and the central cholinergic function in amnesic rats / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To observe the effects of Xiatianwu tota l alkaloids ( XA ) on learning and memory impairment and the central cholinergic f unction in rats with quinolinic acid microinjected into bilateral hippocampus. Methods Alzheimers disease (AD) rat models were made by damagin g bilateral hippocampus with quinolinic acid (150 nmol in 2 ?l for each hippoca mpus). XA 0.25, 0.5, 1 mg?kg -1 was administrated ig from 1 week before model established to 3 weeks after model established. Y-maze was used to measur e the learning and memory ability. The activity of the acetylcholinesterase ( AC hE ) in hippocampus and the contents of acetylcholine ( ACh ) was determined by spectrophotometry. Results Microinjection of quinolinic acid in to the rats hippocampus induced learning and memory dysfunction (P