Abstract: Objective To observe dynamic variation of neural precursor cells in dentate gyrus of hippocampus and effect of Yangxue Qingnao Granule on it in vascular dementia rats. Methods 72 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=24), vascular dementia group (model group, n=24) and Yangxue Qingnao Granule group (treatment group, n=24). The vascular dementia model was established with modified Pulsineli's four-vessel occlusion. The expression of Nestin was detected with Western blotting, the expression of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and BrdU/Nestin were detected with immunofluorescence in dentate gyrus of hippocampus 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after modeling. Results The expression of Nestin, BrdU and BrdU/Nestin increased in the model and treatment groups with time, peaked at 4 weeks after modeling, and it was more than that of the sham group on all the time points (P<0.01). However, it was more in the treatment group than in the model group on all the time points (P<0.01). Conclusion Yangxue Qingnao Granule promotes the proliferation of neural precursor cells in dentate gyrus of hippocampus in vascular dementia rats.

Key words: vascular dementia, neural precursor cells, proliferation, dentate gyrus, hippocampus, Yangxue Qingnao Granule