Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve the learning capacity and memory in vascular dementia

Abstract

Objective To explore the influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the learning and memory ability using a rat model of vascular dementia (VD). Methods Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a VD group and an HBOT group, each of 15 rats using a random number table. The improved four-vessel method was used to establish a VD model in all except the rats in the normal group, but for the sham operation group, the vertebral artery was not subjected to firing and the arteria carotis communis was not clipped. The HBOT group was then given HBOT for 7 days. The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate their learning and memory ability of all 4 groups. Results Compared to the normal group, the mean escape latency of the sham operation group, the VD group and the HBOT group was significantly longer in each case (P<0.05). Their platform quadrant crossing times were also significantly less, and their quadrant swimming distance as a proportion of their total swimming distance was significantly smaller (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the mean escape latency of the VD and HBOT groups was significantly longer (P<0.05), the times of crossing platform quadrant were less and their quadrant swimming distance was a smaller proportion of their total swimming distance. As compared with the VD group, the mean escape latency of the HBOT group was significantly shorter [(25.73±6.20) s], the average platform quadrant crossing times were significantly more [(9.51±2.25) times] and the platform quadrant swimming distance of the HBOT group was significantly longer [(494.72±208.26)], representing a significantly larger proportion of the total swimming distance [(28.71±5.32)%](P<0.05). Conclusion HBOT can effectively improve learning and memory in vascular dementia, at least in rats. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy; Vascular Dementia; Morris water maze; Learning; Memory