Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (6): 421-425.

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Puerarin decreases hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha in the hippocampus of vascular dementia rats

Haiqin Wu, Huqing Wang, Bei Zhang, Guilian Zhang, Ru Zhang, Lingfeng Zhang   

  1. Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Received:2011-10-10 Revised:2012-01-16 Online:2012-02-25 Published:2012-02-25
  • Contact: Haiqin Wu, Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China whq60@sohu.com
  • About author:Haiqin Wu☆, M.D., Professor, Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China

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Abstract:

In this study, a rat vascular dementia model was established by permanent bilateral common carotid arterial occlusion. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin 3 days before modeling, for 45 successive days. Results demonstrated that in treated animals hippocampal structures were clear, nerve cells arranged neatly, and cytoplasm was rich in Nissl bodies. The number of cells positive for hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha, erythropoietin and endothelial nitric oxide synthase was reduced; and the learning and memory abilities of rats were significantly improved. Our experimental findings indicate that puerarin can significantly improve learning and memory in a vascular dementia model, and that the underlying mechanism may be associated with the regulation of the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha.

Key words: puerarin, vascular dementia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha, erythropoietin, endothelial nitric-oxide synthase