Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on cognitive function and neurotransmitter levels in rats with vascular dementia Wang Jie, Mao Shan1, Wang Jian, Jiao Yuhuan, Zhang Xiangfeng, Zhang Yingxin, Wang Zhenhuan*, Zhang Qinchang, Li Shaolin2 Department of Neurology, Nanyang the First People's Hospital, Nanyang-473 000, China 1Nanyang Medical College, Nanyang, 473 000, China 2Department of Neurology, Xinxiang Central Hospital, Xinxiang, 453 000, China *Corresponding author's e-mail: mschlick@126.com
Online published on 17 September, 2018. Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the cognitive function and neurotransmitter levels in rats with vascular dementia (VD) and its mechanism of action. 50 male Sprague Dawley rats were selected for this study, and the vascular dementia model was established by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries of rats. Of which 40 rats were then divided into four groups (n=10): vascular dementia group, low-dose, middle-dose and high-dose ginkgo biloba extract groups respectively; another 10 rats were allocated to sham operation group. Rats in low, middle and high dose groups were received 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/d Ginkgo biloba extract via tail vein, respectively, while model group and sham group received an equal volume of normal saline. Morris water maze was used to evaluate the cognitive function of rats. After behavioral observation, these rats were sacrificed for detecting the level of acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain tissue. Ginkgo biloba extract can significantly improve the cognitive function of rats with vascular dementia, the mechanism may be correlated with the fact that the extract can obviously increase the levels of ACh, 5-HT and DA, as well as inhibit the activity of AChE. Top Keywords Cognitive function, Ginkgo biloba extract, Neurotransmitter, Vascular dementia. Top |