Expression of nNOS in the hippocampus in vascular dementia rats / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the hippocampus in vascular dementia rats.Methods 60 rats were randomly divided into five groups control group, model 12 h group,model 1 d group, model 3 d group and model 7 d group.An animal model of vascular dementia (VD) was established through repeated cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats with repeated bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion. The number of neurons in CA 1 area of hippocampus in every group was observed using HE staining. The expression of nNOS in the hippocampus in VD rats was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blot method.Results The number of neurons in CA 1 area of hippocampus decreased significantly in 12 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d group. The expression of nNOS in CA 1 area of hippocampus was weak in control group and up-regulated in 12 h group and increased further in 1 d group. However, its expression decreased gradually in 3 d and 7 d group.Conclusion nNOS may be related to the injury of hippocampus at early phase in VD rats. It might be regarded as one of mechanisms to cause VD.