Abstract: Objective To study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO)therapy on abilities of learning and memory and hippocampal pyramidal cell in vascular dementia rats.MethodsThe vascular dementia model was reproduced and divided into control,sham and treatment groups.After 30 d of HBO therapy,the rats were assessed with the Morris water maze,and their hippocampal pyramidal cells were observed after HE staining.ResultsCompared with the control group,the ability of learning and memory of rats in treatment group increased,as well as the hippocampal pyramidal cells did.ConclusionHyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to treat vascular dementia.

Key words: vascular dementia, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, hippocampus, pyramidal cell, ability of learning and memory