Effect of dl-3n-butyphthalide on cognitive function and hippocampal nuclear factor-κB expression in vascular dementia rats

【Objective】 To observe the effect of dl-3n-butyphthalide(NBP) on cognitive function and hippocampal nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) expression in vascular dementia(VD) rats.【Methods】 VD was induced by occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries in rats.Ninety male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model control and dl-3n-butyphthalide treatment.The cognitive function was evaluated by water maze tests.NF-κB expression in the neuron of hippocampus was detected by immunohistochemistry.【Results】 As compared rats with sham-operation,the abilities of learning and memory were apparently decreased in VD rats(P 0.05).NBP treated group significantly attenuated the decreased learning and memory in VD rats(P 0.05).The mean optical density of positive cells in NBP treated group were(0.11 ±0.01).Compared with the model group,the mean optical density of positive neurons decreased significantly in NBP treated group(P 0.05).【Conclusion】 NBP improves the learning and memory abilities in VD rats.Its effects may result from the decrease in hippocampus NF-κB expression.