Object To observe the improving effects of
Bushen Yizhi Decoction (Bsyzd) on interspace explore learning and memory in rat
model with Alzheimer's disease. Methods Eighty 15-month Wistar rats were induced by ip D -galactose for four weeks and injection of basal nucleus of Meynert with ibotenic acid (IBO) to make AD model, then randomly divided into AD model group, Hup-A treated group, BSYZD (high dose, 12 g/kg·d) treated group and BSYZD (low dose, 6 g/kg·d) treated group, and also normal aged and young groups. After treating for four weeks, Morris water maze was used to assess the improvement of rat
interspace explore learning and memory. Results In the interspace explore experiment, the significant differences were observed between the model, Hup-A treated groups and normal aged, young groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05); also between the high-, low-dose treated groups of BSYZD and the model, Hup-A treated groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the percentage of the rat swimming time in platform quadrant was markedly higher in the normal young, aged groups and high-dose treated groups of BSYZD (P<0.05) after departing from the original platform in the 7th day. And there were some in the low-dose treated group of BSYZD and Hup-A treated group, but not markedly (P>0.05). Conclusion BSYZD possesses a certain preventive effects on interspace explore learning and memory in AD rat model.