Objective:To explore effect of nimodipine on post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in rats with carotid artery stenosis. Methods:Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, stenosis group and nimodipine group with 18 rats in each group. After two weeks, the rats were injected with 1 mg·kg-1 nimodipine intraperitoneally in nimodipine group, and the rats in the sham operation group and the stenosis group were given equal amount of saline for 4 weeks. The spatial learning and memory ability, hippocampal neurotransmitter content, hippocampal tissue structure, expression of B lymphocyte tumor -2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax), cleaved aspartic acid protein hydrolase 3 (Caspase 3) and 9 protein were detected before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after treatment. Results:Compared with the stenosis group, the stenosis rate and escape latency were decreased(P<0.01), average platform quadrant swimming distance percentage was increased(P<0.01) in the nimodipine group before and after treatment at the same time. After 4 weeks treatment,compared with the stenosis group, morphology of hippocampal neurons was a more consistent. The contents of NE, DA and 5-HT were increased (P<0.01), and the expressions of Bax, cleaved caspase 3 and 9 were decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased in the nimodipine group (P<0.01). Conclusion:Nimodipine can improve POCD in rats with carotid artery stenosis via inhibition neurons apoptosis. |