Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on learning, memory and the expression of brain-derived growth factor and acetylcholine / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and on learning,memory and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and acetylcholine (Ach) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.Methods Sixty healthy,male Wistar rats were studied.Allograft thrombosis particles 48 to 74 μm in diameter were injected into the rats' external carotid arteries to create a CSVD model.The rats were then divided randomly into a hyperbaric oxygen group,a nimotop group and a control group.The hyperbaric oxygen group rats were given hyperbaric oxygen therapy 12 hours after the modeling.The nimotop group rats were given nimodipine by intragastric perfusion 12h after the modeling.The rats in the control group had no special intervention.At 7,14 and 28 days after the modeling,any changes in learning and memory were assessed with a Morris water maze test.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the expression of BDNF in the cerebral cortex and of Ach in the hippocampus at 28 days.Results At both 14 and 28 days the average escape latency of the rats in the hyperbaric oxygen group was significantly shorter than those of the nimotop and control groups.The average platform crossing time had increased significantly more than in the nimotop and control groups.At both 14 and 28 days the escape latency and platform crossing times of the nimotop group were significantly better than in the control group.Ach content and BDNF content were significantly higher in the HBO group than in the nimotop and control groups.Conclusions Hyperbaric oxygen treatment can promote BDNF release in CSVD,which is helpful to protect and repair neural mitochondria,to maintain the cortex and hippocampal neurotransmitters on a stable level,and to improve learning and memory.Its effect is better than that of nimotop.