Effect of Naoling decoction on the expression of microglia and IL-6 in hippocampal CA3 region of rats with synthetic Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of Naoling decoction on the learning and memory behaviors and the expression of microglia and IL-6 in hippocampal CA3 region of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and to elucidate the potential mechanism.

METHODS

Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a normal group, a sham-operation group, an AD group, a Naoling decoction group and a Naofukang group. The spatial learning and memory behaviors of the rats were investigated by water maze and Y-maze. The Alzheimer's disease model was established by injecting Aβ1-42 into the hippocamal of the rats. Expression of OX-42 (one of the microglia specific markers) and IL-6 in the CA3 region of hippocamal was measured by immunohistochemical stain.

RESULTS

Morris water maze experiment showed that the escape latency of hidden platform in the AD group was significantly delayed (P<0.05) and the average times of passing was decreased (P<0.05). Y-maze test showed that the times needed to the learn how to evade the electrical stimulation in the AD group was most than in other groups (P<0.05). Compared with the AD group, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test of the Naoling decoction group were significantly different (P<0.05). The expression of OX-42 and IL-6 in the CA3 region of hippocamal in the Naoling decoction group was decreased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Naoling decoction can improve learning and memory, and weaken the expression of OX-42 and IL-6 in hippocampal CA3 of AD rats, which may partly be the therapeutic mechanism of Naoling decoction for AD.