Salidroside prevents cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats

Objective To investigate the effects of salidroside on cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=36) were divided into three groups (n=12 per group): sham operation; bilateral permanent occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2-VO); 2-VO+salidroside. Rats received 20mg/kg per day salidroside or vehicle intraperitoneal injection beginning the day before surgery and continuing until 34 days postoperatively. Cognitive function was evaluated by Morris water maze test and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) measurement. Hippocampal neuronal apoptosis was evaluated via immunofluorescence. Results Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion caused marked cognitive deficit and LTP inhibition. These effects were largely ameliorated by salidroside administration. Salidroside prevented caspase-3 activation, increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and reversed hippocampal neuronal loss induced by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Conclusions Salidroside prevents cognitive deficits caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in rats, and alleviates apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 area.