ZMS对老年大鼠脑内NGF和BDNF的影响

目的　研究自然衰老大鼠脑内两种神经营养素与学习记忆的关系 ,以及中药活性成分ZMS的作用。方法　用Y 迷宫测试动物的学习记忆功能 ,酶联免疫吸附分析法测定脑组织中BDNF和NGF的含量。结果　老年大鼠的学习和记忆成绩比青年大鼠差 (P <0 0 1) ,脑组织中BDNF的水平降低 ,NGF的变化无显著性。老年鼠喂服ZMS 2mon后 ,学习和记忆能力改善 ,正确次数 /反应总时间比值提高 (P <0 0 1) ,同时BDNF含量也高于老年组 (P <0 0 1)。但是ZMS对脑内NGF含量无影响。结论　ZMS能提高增龄引起的脑BDNF降低 ,从而对神经元起保护作用 ,这可能是ZMS改善老年大鼠学习记忆功能的重要机制之一

The effect of ZMS, an active component of Zhimu, on NGF and BDNF in brains of aged rats

AIM To study the effect of ZMS, an active component of traditional Chinese herb Zhimu, on two neurotrophins in brains of aged rats. METHODS The function of learning and memory was detected by Y-maze. BDNF and NGF in brain were determined by ELISA. Rats were divided into three groups, young, aged, and aged treated with ZMS for two months at a dose of 18mg/kg/d which is equivalent to the dose recommended for clinical use. RESULTS The learning and memory ability are impaired in aged animals and ZMS is effective in improving the learning and memory ability of such animals. BDNF content of whole brain is lowered in aged rats when compared with young rats. ZMS is able to raise the BDNF content to a higher level. The NGF contents of young, aged and aged treated with ZMS groups were not significantly different from each other. CONCLUSIONS ZMS is able to raise brain BDNF in aged rats and thus to protect cholinergic neurons from degeneration. It is very probable that this action is one of the mechanisms of ZMS in improving the ability of learning and memory.