Effect of tiaoxin recipe on long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices of rats

Objective

To investigate the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices of rats.

Methods

Population spikes (PS) in CA1 area of rats hippocampal slices were evoked by extracellular microelectrode recording technique, and tetanic stimulation (100Hz, 100 pulses) was used to induce long-term potentiation (LTP).

Results

The successful rate of evoking LTP was about 60% under normal condition, the PS amplitude increased after stimulation, whereas PS latent period decreased obviously. Pre-incuba-tion of hippocampal slices with TXR (7. 45 mg/ml) showed little effect on either the shape or amplitude of PS, indicating it didn’t influence the basal synaptic transmission. However, after tetanus, the LTP induction rate and PS amplitude were significantly enhanced compard with the control.

Conclusion

TXR facilitates LTP induction rate and PS amplitude in rat hippocampal slices, which might be one of the mechanisms of TXR in improving learning and memory function of hippocampus.