Effect of Yindan Xinnaotong capsules on reactive nitrogen intermediates levels in the cerebral cortex and learning and memory abilities of rats with cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of Yindan Xinnaotong capsules (YDXNT) on the reactive nitrogen intermediates in the cerebral cortex and learning and memory abilities of rats with cerebral ischemia.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group,vehicle group and Yindan Xinnaotong capsule treatment group.The animal models of cerebral ischemia in the later two groups were established by two vessel occlusion.Yindan Xinnaotong capsule 60 mg/(kg·d) via inttragastric administration was given to the Yindan Xinnaotong capsule treatment group for a consecutive four weeks.The learning and memory ability changes were tested with Morris water maze and the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in the cerebral cortex were measured by colorimetric method.Results As compared with the vehicle group,the Yindan Xirnaotong capsule treatment group and sham-operated group had significantly shorter escape latency and longer searching time in the quadrant of primary platform (P＜0.05); As compared with the vehicle group,the Yindan Xinnaotong capsule treatment group had significant decreased contents of NO and iNOS in the cerebral cortex (P＜0.05).Conclusion Yindan Xinnaotong capsules can improve the learning and memory abilities of rats with cerebral ischemia by lowering the activity of NO and iNOS in the cerebral cortex. Key words: Vascular dementia; Yindan Xinnaotong capsule; Learning and memory ability; Nitric oxide; Inducible nitric-oxide synthsae