Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of Huangpu Tongqiao Capsule on the learning and memory ability and pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region among rats with vascular dementia (VaD). Methods Wistar rats were divided into normal group, sham-operation group, model group, donepezil group, and Huangpu Tongqiao Capsule group. A rat model of VaD was induced by permanent occlusion of bilateral common carotid arteries. After 45 d of intragastric administration, Morris water maze test (MWMT) was performed to observe the behavioral manifestation of rats, and the pathological changes in the hippocampal CA1 region were evaluated under a light microscope. Results The place navigation experiment and space search experiment of MWMT showed that the Huangpu Tongqiao group and donepezil group had significantly shortened escape latency (P<0.01) and significantly increased number of platform crossings, number of target quadrant crossings, and target quadrant ratio (P<0.01), as compared with the model group. The light microscopy showed that the Huangpu Tongqiao group and donepezil group had significantly reduced cell apoptosis and necrosis in the hippocampal CA1 region compared with the model group. Conclusion For rats with VaD, Huangpu Tongqiao Capsule can improve the learning and memory ability and reduce the hippocampal cell damage in the CA1 region.