Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of Jinmaitong (JMT) on expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in hippocampal neurons culturedwith high glucose. Methods Hippocampal neurons were primarily cultured and purified from the hippocampus of new-born SpragueDawley rats. Neuron-specific enolase immunocytochemical method was adopted for the identification of the neurons. They were divided intonormal control group, high glucose group, high-dose JMT (JH) group, middle-dose JMT (JM) group, low-dose JMT (JL) group and a positivecontrol group. 72 hours later, Western blotting was adopted to detect the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3. Results Comparedwith the normal control group, the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 in the high glucose group significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expressionof Bcl-2 significantly decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in the positivecontrol group and JH, JM, and JL groups significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of Bcl-2 significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with the positive control group, the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax significantly decreased in JH, JM, and JL groups (P<0.05),and the expression of Bcl-2 significantly increased in JH and JM groups (P<0.05). Conclusion JMT may reduce apoptosis by inhibiting theexpression of Bax and Caspase-3 and promoting the expression of Bcl-2.

Key words: diabetes mellitus, cognitive dysfunction, Jinmaitong, hippocampal neurons, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3