Abstract: Objective Discuss the relationship between impaired glucose regulation of neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus and the ability of learning and memory in rats. Methods Impaired glucose tolerance model rats were made by high fat and sugar diet；The morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory function；The TUNEL method was used to detect the number of neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus. Expression of bal -2/Bax and bcl-2 mRNA/Bax mRNA factor in hippocampus neurons were detected using immunohistochemistry and situ hybridization. Results Compared with NGT group, in IGR group the learning and memory ability were meaningfully decreased (P<0.05); the number of neuronal apoptosis in hippocampus was increased significantly(P<0.05); the expression of bcl-2 and bcl-2 mRNA in hippocampus was decreased significantly(P <0.05); the expression of Bax and Bax mRNA in hippocampus was increased significantly(P <0.05)；The ability of learning and memory was correlated positively with the expression of bcl-2 (P <0.05) and negative correlation with the expression of bax (P<0.05). Conclusions There is a relationship between impaired glucose regulation and the ability of learning and memory in rats, one of its important mechanism may have some connection with hippocampal neuronal apoptosis.

Key words: impaired glucose regulation, learning and memory, neuronal apoptosis, hippocampus