Effect of Buyanghuanwu recipe on cognitive function of gerbils with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Objective To study the effect of Buyanghuanwu recipe on cerebral ischemia/ reperfusion and its underlying mechanism in gerbils.Methods Male gerbils(n=188) were divided randomly into four groups:control group,model group,high and low dose of Buyanghuanwu recipe treatment group.Transient forebrain ischemia model was established with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion according to Kirino's method.The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) phosphorylation expression was detected with immunohistochemistry and western-blot.Neuron apoptosis was detected with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfernase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) method.Learning and memory function of the gerbils were tested with eight-arm maze.Results One hour,6 hours,one day,and 3 days after the ischemia,the p38 MAPK phosphorylation expressions were 1.85±0.86,4.40±1.26,6.70±1.87,and 5.67±1.58,respectively,which were significantly enhanced compared with those of the control group(P0.05).The number of neural apoptotic cells were 9.60±2.69,12.68±2.99,16.94±3.92,and 25.82±4.61/section at 6 hours,1,3,and 7days after the ischemia,which were significantly enhanced compared with those of the control group(P0.05).The eight-arm maze behavioral test showed that the total error and the times of reference memory error increased.Compared with the model group,the p38 MAPK phosphorylation expressions and the number of neural apoptotic cells decreased obviously in high dose of Buyanghuanwu recipe group(P0.05).Meanwhile the total error times and the times of reference memory error decreased(P0.05).Conclusion Buyanghuanwu recipe improves cognition function after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion,which is related to modulation of p38 MAPK signal pathway and inhibition of neuronal apoptosis.