Su Zhang-jie, Han Da-dong, Zhang Tao, Chen Bao-gui, Yang Zhuo
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2008 Nov 18;88(42):3003-7.
To investigate the influence of Chinese medicine Huishen granule (HG) containing ginseng, grassleaved sweet flag rhizome, pilose deer antler, etc, on learning and memory functions in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) and the mechanisms thereof.
Impact acceleration method was used to establish DAI Wistar rat models. Twenty model rats were randomly divided into 2 equal groups, the DAI+HG group treated with gastric perfusion of HG 3 times a day since 24 h after the establishment of model for 14 days, and the DAI group without treatment. Ten rats underwent sham operation as controls. Fourteen days after the injury, Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to detect the rat's abilities of learning and memory for continuous 5 days. The changes of escape latency in acquisition of the task, the percentage of time spent in target quadrant, and the number of crossing the point of original platform in probe test were recorded. At day 20 after the-operation, the rats were subjected to long-term potentiation (LTP) recording in hippocampus to measure the percentage of slope and baseline of excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP). Two rats from each group were killed 24 h, 14 d, and 20 d after the operation with their brains taken out, HE and immunohistochemical staining were employed to exam the brain lesion at 24 h, day 14 and 20 post-injury.
The escape latency of the DAI group was (32.8+/-4.6) s, significantly longer than those of the DAI+HG and sham operation groups [(20.3+/-0.7) and (16.8+/-0.8) s respectively, both P<0.05]. The target quadrant staying time percentage and number of platform location crossings of the DAI group were (36.4+/-3.2)% and 4.5+/-0.6 respectively, both significantly less than those of the DAI+HG and sham operation groups [(46.0+/-2.4)% and 6.8+/-0.8, and (46.9+/-2.1)% and 8.1+/-0.8 respectively, all P<0.05]. The LTP level of the DAI group was (101.4+/-3.3)%, significantly lower than those of the DAI+HG and sham operation groups [(116.3+/-6.7)% and (117.9+/-2.8)% respectively, both P<0.05]. No significant differences in the parameters were found between the DAI+HG and sham operation groups (all P>0.05). Classical pathological changes of DAI occurred in the brains of the DAI and DAI+HG groups at the time point of 24 h, and mitigated partly at the time points of day 14 and 20.
The learning and memory impairment of DAI was ameliorated significantly with the treatment of Chinese medicine HG, owing to the recuperation of synaptic plasticity in hippocampal area.
探讨含人参、石菖蒲、鹿茸等的中药回神颗粒（HG）对弥漫性轴索损伤（DAI）大鼠学习记忆功能的影响及其机制。
采用撞击加速法建立DAI Wistar大鼠模型。将20只模型大鼠随机分为2组，每组10只。造模后24 h起，DAI+HG组大鼠每日灌胃给予HG 3次，连续14 d；DAI组大鼠不做处理。另取10只大鼠行假手术作为对照组。伤后14 d，采用Morris水迷宫（MWM）试验连续5 d检测大鼠的学习记忆能力，记录任务获取过程中逃避潜伏期的变化、探测试验中目标象限停留时间百分比及原平台穿越次数。术后20 d，对大鼠进行海马长时程增强（LTP）记录，测量兴奋性突触后电位（EPSP）斜率和基线的百分比。术后24 h、14 d和20 d每组各处死2只大鼠，取脑，采用HE染色和免疫组化染色观察伤后24 h、14 d和20 d时脑损伤情况。
DAI组大鼠逃避潜伏期为（32.8±4.6）s，显著长于DAI+HG组和假手术组[分别为（20.3±0.7）s和（16.8±0.8）s，P均<0.05]。DAI组大鼠目标象限停留时间百分比和平台定位穿越次数分别为（36.4±3.2）%和4.5±0.6，均显著低于DAI+HG组和假手术组[分别为（46.0±2.4）%和6.8±0.8，（46.9±2.1）%和8.1±0.8，P均<0.05]。DAI组大鼠LTP水平为（101.4±3.3）%，显著低于DAI+HG组和假手术组[分别为（116.3±6.7）%和（117.9±2.8）%，P均<0.05]。DAI+HG组与假手术组各指标比较，差异均无统计学意义（P均>0.05）。DAI组和DAI+HG组大鼠脑在伤后24 h出现DAI典型病理改变，在伤后14 d和20 d部分减轻。
中药HG可显著改善DAI大鼠的学习记忆障碍，其机制可能与恢复海马区突触可塑性有关。
