Rehmanniae Decoction Improve Brain Function in Vascular Dementia Rats Through Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K)/AKT Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Objective: Studies have shown that Rehmanniae Decoction (Reh) has therapeutic effect on vascular dementia (VD). PI3K/AKT signaling regulates oxidative stress damage and cell apoptosis. Our study intends torehmanniae decoction's effect on the neural function in VD mice. Methods: The mice were divided into Sham group, VD group, low dose Reh+ VD group and high dose Reh+ VD group. Water maze test was used to assess learning and memory ability. The activity of caspase-3, the content of MDA and the activity of SOD enzyme in hippocampus were detected. In vitro , HT22 cells were divided into control group, I–R group, I–R+ 2% Reh serum, I–R+ 4% Reh serum. Flow cytometry was used to detect the intracellular content of ROS and cell apoptosis. Results: Compared with sham group, the learning and memory ability of mice in VD group was significantly decreased. p-AKT level and SOD activity in the hippocampus was decreased, the Caspase-3 activity and MDA content was significantly increased. After treatment of Reh, the learning and memory ability of VD model mice was significantly improved, p-AKT protein expression and SOD activity were up-regulated, and Caspase-3 activity and MDA content were reduced. Conclusion: Rehmanniae decoction alleviates the oxidative stress and inhibits cell apoptosis to improve the function of brain by regulating PI3K/AKT pathway.