Abstract: Objective To study the effect of FLZ on the learning and memory ability in vascular dementia rats induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and its influence on the expression of HIF-1α. Methods tMCAO for 2 hours-induced vascular dementia rats was utilized. The Morris water maze was used to evaluate the learning and memory ability after 30 days of administration. The TTC staining was used to evaluate the infarct volume. The alterations in cortex and hippocampus morphology were assessed by HE staining. In addition, an animal model of tMCAO for 2 hours followed by 24 hours reperfusion was used. The Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α after 24 hours of reperfusion. Results In the Morris water maze, FLZ administered orally for 30 days reduced remarkably the escape latency time, decreased significantly the infarct volume and also ameliorated the neuropathological alterations in rat cortex and hippocampus. Additionally, FLZ inhibited significantly HIF-1α overexpression induced by tMCAO for 2 hours. Conclusion FLZ could improve significantly memory deficit in vascular dementia rats, its protective effect was related to inhibiting HIF-1α overexpression possibly.

Key words: FLZ, vascular dementia, tMCAO, hypoxia inducible factor-1α