Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion on abilities of learning and memory and astrocytes in old rats. Methods 50 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham group and model group with 25 animals in each group. All animals were assessed with Morris water maze to test the changes of abilities of learning and memory. The expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the frontal lobe and hippocampus were observed immunohistochemically. Results Compared with the sham group, the scores of Morris water maze decreased in the model group, while the astrocytes marked by GFAP proliferated and enlarged significantly. Conclusion Proliferation and morphological changes of astrocytes are involved in pathological mechanism of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, which might be associated with the decrease of ability of learning and memory.

Key words: cerebral hypoperfusion, learning and memory, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), rat