The effect of buyanghuanwu decoctinn on expression of immunoreactive protein and mRNA of NMDA receptor 2B subunit in rats hippocampal with vascular dementia

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of buyanghuanwu decoction on expression of immunoreactive protein and mRNA of NMDA receptor 2B subunit in rats hippocampal with vascular dementia to investigate the mechanism of buyanghuanwu decoction. Methods One hundred and forty-four rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operated group, VD model group,nimodipine group and buyanghuanwu decoction treatment group. The rats models of vascular dementia were built up by four vessels occlusion method. VD rats were treated with in-tragastrical buyanghuanwu decoction suspension (50 pharmacognostic g·kg-1·d-1) and nimodipine suspension (20 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 30 days. The learning and memory abilities were evaluated by Morris water maze tests. The change of NR2B protein in hippocampal of each group of rats were measured with immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques and the expression of NR2B mRNA in hippocampus were observed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR techniques. Results Water maze tests,compared with sham-operated group((24. 18 ± 7.90)s,(7.99 ±1.32)/min) ,the escape latency(51. 25 ±18.28)s to explore the extension and the average spatial probe number ((5. 26 ±0. 74)/min) reduced in VD model group (P 0. 05). Similarly,as compared rats with sham-operated group(0.71 ±0.13), (5887 ±501), the expression of NR2B protein (0. 33 ± 0. 06) and its mRNA(593 ±53) were apparently decreased in VD rats (P 0.05).Conclusions Buyanghuanwu decoction improves the learning and memory abilities in VD rats, the therapeutic mechanism was concerned with lessening the injury of neurons on CA1 field in hippocampus and promoted the expression of NR2B protein and its mRNA. Key words: Buyanghuanwu decoction; Vascular dementia; Learning and memory; Hippocampus; N-Methyl -D-asparate receptor 2B subunit