Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the cholinergic neurons of hippocampus and praxiology of vascular dementia rats.MethodsThe vascular dementia models were made and divided into control and therapy group. After 30 days of HBO therapy, abilities of learning and memory of rats were tested by using the Morris water maze. Immunochemistry staining was used to observe the number of cholinergic neurons of CA1 subfield of hippocampus. ResultsAbilities of learning and memory of rats and the number of the neurons positive to ChAT like immunoreaction in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus significantly increased in therapy group.ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen therapy is effective on the vascular dementia model rats.

Key words: hyperbaric oxygen therapy, vascular dementia, cholinergic neurons, Morris water maze, rat