Objective

2

To explore the mechanism of Suanzaoren Tang in improving learning-memory of sleep-deprived rats based on Nod-like receptor 3 （NLRP3） inflammatome pathway.

Method

2

The rats were randomly divided into normal control group， model group， Eszolam group（5.4×10

-4

g·kg

-1

·d

-1

）， low-dose Suanzaoren Tang group（4.59 g·kg

-1

·d

-1

）and high-dose Suanzaoren Tang group （18.36 g·kg

-1

·d

-1

）. In addition to normal control group， other groups were used to constructed sleep-deprived model， which was concurrent with 30-day continuous drug administration. Water maze was used to evaluate the learning-memory function of rats； The mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， apoptosis-related speckle proteins （ASC）， aspartic acid-specific cysteine protease-1 （Caspase-1）， interleukin-1（IL-1） and IL-18 in the hippocampus of rats were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot.

Result

2

Compared with control group， the incubation period of the platform， the total distance of swimming and the duration of first reaching the platform in model group were significantly increased （

P

<

0.01）， while the number of platform crossings and the target quadrant time were decreased （

P

<

0.01）. Compared with the model group， the incubation period， total swimming distance and the duration of first reaching the platform in low-dose Suanzaoren Tang group and high-dose Suanzaoren Tang group were decreased to different degrees （

P

<

0.05，

P

<

0.01）， while the number of platform crossings and the target quadrant time were increased significantly （

P

<

0.05，

P

<

0.01），but with no significant change in estazolam group. Compared with normal control group， mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1

β

， IL-18 in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly increased （

P

<

0.05，

P

<

0.01）. Compared with model group， mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1

β

and IL-18 in the hippocampus of the rats in low-dose Suanzaoren Tang group and high-dose Suanzaoren Tang group were all decreased to different degrees （

P

<

0.05）. The mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1

β

and IL-18 in the hippocampus of Suanzaoren group also decreased， but with no significant change.

Conclusion

2

Suanzaoren Tang can improve the learning-memory function of sleep-deprived rats， and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammatome pathway in hippocampus and the alleviation of neuroinflammation.