Abstract: Objective To observe the intervention effect of the removing carotid artery stenosis combined with Rho kinase inhibitors on severe carotid artery stenosis induced VCI model of cognitive function, hippocampal apoptosis and related gene expression. Method 60 SD rats which were made into severe carotid stenosis model were randomly divided into five groups: combination group, drug group, narrow discharge group , control group and the sham group. Combination group was given a narrow lift and fasudil (8.35mg/kg), drug group were injected the same amount of fasudil, narrow discharge group were lifted the narrow, and the control group was injected with equal volume of saline. In 2, 4 weeks after the intervention, the spatial learning and memory ability of rats were measured by Morris water maze; analysed the expression of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampus by immunohistochemistry and detecting the apoptosis of hippocampal nerve cells by TUNEL staining. Results Compared with the simple drug group and narrow discharge group, the combined treatment group’s escape latency and the percentage of swimming distance were improved (P <0.05), the number of apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2 positive cells was increased while the Bax positive cells was reduced (P <0.05), and 4 weeks is more pronounced than two weeks (P <0.05), neuronal apoptosis rate of hippocampus District in combined treatment group decreased(P <0.05), and with the extension of treatment time, the apoptosis rate was downward trend.Conclusion Combined stenosis removal with Rho kinase inhibitors could significantly improve stenosis-induced cognitive impairment by adjusting the expression of apoptosis-related proteins .

Key words: Vascular Cognitive Impairment, Rho kinase inhibitors, Apoptosis, Carotid Artery Stenting