Effects of 17β-estrogen on the cognitive and function expression of NGF and BDNF in vascular dementia rats

Aim: To explore the effects of 17β-estrogen on the expressions of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in vascular dementia(VD) rats.Methods: A total of 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n=16), model group(n=16),and test group (n=16). Model rats of chronic forebrain ischemia were subjected to permanent bilateral common carotid arteries ligation for 60 days.The rats of three groups were intra-abdominally infused with peanut oil,peanut oil, and 17β-estrogenm, respectively. Cognitive function and the contents of NGF and BDNF were observed or determined at 60 d after injection by Y maze test and ELISA, respectively. Results: The number of learing, the correct times for 10 maze tests of VD rats at 60 d after ligation were significantly different from those of normal rats (P0.01). Improved cognitive function was found in VD rats infused with 17β-estrogen after 60 d. The contents of NGF and BDNF in model group and test group were significantly increased at 60 d after ligation,compared with the control group.The contents of NGF and BDNF the test group were significantly higher than those of the model group( P0.01). Conclusion: Intra-abdominally administration of 17β-estrogen improves the cognitive function and increases the contents of NGF and BDNF in VD rats.