An Experimental Study On The Effect Of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae On Learning, Memory And The Expression Of NPY And BDNF In Brain Tissue Of Epileptic Rats During Growth Period

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the learning and memory abilities of the rats kindled by pentylenetetrazole(PTZ) during growth period. To observe the effects of phenobarbital(PB), Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae(RSM)and PB+RSM on the behavior of the rats during the kindling and the learning and memory abilities after the drugs'interventions. To explore the related pathological changes and possible treatment mechanisms of RSM on the learning and memory disorder of the epileptic rats during growth period.METHODSGroup PTZ was kindled by PTZ, and other three groups were treated with RSM, PB and RSM+PB respectively during the model establishing. The behavior of every groups was examined everyday, and the electroencephalogram (EEG) was examined at 28th experimental day. The learning and memory abilities of every group were tested by Y maze after 4 weeks. The pathological changes and the ultrastructure changes of hippocampal CA3 in brain tissue were observed. The expression of Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in cortex and hippocampus were measured with immunohistochemistry.RESULTS①The learning and memory abilities of the growing rats kindled by PTZ were impaired in Y maze tsets, while the neurons in brain and the ultrastructure of hippocampal CA3 were impaired. Compared with the control group, the expression of NPY and BDNF in hippocampal and cortical area of group PTZ increased.②In the three groups treated respectively by RSM, PB and RSM+PB, the convulsions were alleviated and the kindling was delayed, while the EEGs at 28th day were mitigated.③Compared to group PTZ, the learning and memory abilities of group RSM and group RSM+PB were improved to a certain extent. And the learning ability of group PB wasn't changed, while the memory ability of group PB was improved to some extent.④The pathological changes and the ultrastructures changes of hippocampal CA3 in the group PB, RSM and RSM+PB were improved to some different exent.⑤Compared with group PTZ, the expression of NPY was not changed in hippocampal and cortical areas in the group PB, while the expression of BDNF was decreased. In the group RSM, the expression of NPY decreased in contrast with group PTZ in both areas, and BDNF increased. In group RSM+PB, the expression of NPY decreased and BDNF increased, did not changed compared to group RSM.CONCLUSIONS①The dysfunction in learning and memory by PTZ might be related with the impairment of the neurons and nerve fibers, and the increased expression of NPY and BDNF both in hippocampal and cortical areas might be some endogenous antiepileptic effect, but the overexpression of NPY might be related with the learning and memory dysfunction.②PB could protect the neurons and nerve fibers, but could not...