Effect of Niuhuang-Xingnao pill on apoptosis in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease model mice

Abstract

Objective To study the the treatment effects of Niuhuang-Xingnao pill on Alzheimer’s diseases mice and its influence on the levels of Bcl-2, caspase-3 and C-caspase-3. Methods 50 APP/V717 mice were divided into the positive control group, the model group, Niuhuang-Xingnao pill high, medium and low dosage groups. 10 C57BL/6 mice were selected as blank control. The high, medium and low dosage groups were given 142, 71 and 35.5 mg/kg Niuhuang-Xingnao pill, the positive control group was given 10 mg/kg donepezil, the blank group and model group were given same volume normal salin. 1 time/day, and continuous administration for 60 d. Morris water maze experiment was performed to test the learning and memory ability in mice. The levels of CAT, SOD and GSH-Px were detected by the method of ELISA, while Bcl-2, caspase-3 and C-caspase-3 in the groups were detected by western-blotting. The apoptosis of hippocampus of mice were observed by the method of TUNEL. Results Compared with the model group, the third square time (36.58 ± 4.57 s, 32.46 ± 4.25 s, 29.71 ± 4.26 s vs. 25.48 ± 3.91 s) of high, middle and low dose groups were significantly longer, cross time of the table (5.82 ± 0.87, 4.59 ± 0.76, 3.96 ± 0.75 vs. 3.27 ± 0.53) were significantly higher (P<0.05). In the high, middle and low dose groups, the levels of GSH-Px (161.14 ± 14.01 U/mg, 150.76 ± 13.16 U/mg, 143.17 ± 12.54 U/mg vs. 120.78 ± 10.92 U/mg), SOD (14.25 ± 1.82 U/mg, 11.17 ± 1.65 U/mg, 7.24 ± 1.02 U/mg vs. 3.12 ± 0.31 U/mg), CAT (17.95 ± 2.16 U/mg, 16.72 ± 1.83 U/mg, 15.54 ± 1.47 U/mg vs. 13.25 ± 2.60 U/mg) were significantly higher (P<0.05); caspase-3 (1.13 ± 0.13, 1.25 ± 0.15, 1.41 ± 0.17 vs. 1.49 ± 0.20), C-caspase-3 (1.17 ± 0.14, 1.27 ± 0.16, 1.42 ± 0.18 vs. 1.52 ± 0.23) significantly lower(P<0.05), Bcl-2 (0.88 ± 0.08, 0.79 ± 0.06, 0.67 ± 0.04 vs. 0.59 ± 0.04) significantly higher(P<0.05). Conclusions Niuhuang-Xingnao pill treatment of Alzheimer's disease in mice can effectively promote the expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3 and C-caspase-3 in the hippocampus of mice, inhibit the apoptosis of the cells in hippocampus. Key words: Alzheimer disease; Apoptosis; Niuhuang-Xingnao pill; Mice