Objective: To study the effect of Shenxiong Huayu Capsule on the expression of p38 MAPK in the CA1 area of hippocampus in vascular dementia rats. Method: A model of vascular dementia (VD) was established by combining repeated occlusion of common carotid artery and intraperitoneal injection of sodium nitroprusside. The SD rats were evenly randomized into 4 groups: blank control group

sham-operation group

VD model group and Shenxiong Huayu Capsule intervention group。The learning and memory abilities of rats were detected by Morris water maze

and the expression of P38MAPK was detected by immunohistochemistry. Result: (1) Compared with the sham-operation group and blank control group

the escape latent period was increased in the VD model group(P<0.01)

and the times of traversing terrace and the period of staying in the pristine quadrant were obviously decreased in the VD model group(P<0.01

P<0.01).The escape latent period in the Shenxiong Huayu Capsule intervention group was gradually decreased compared with the VD model group (P<0.05

P<0.01)

and the times of traversing terrace and the period of staying in the pristine quadrant were increased compared with the VD model group(P<0.05

P<0.05). (2) The expression of p38MAPK in the CA1 area of hippocampus was increased in the VD model group compared with that in the sham-operation group and blank control group (P<0.01). The expression of p38MAPK in the CA1 area of hippocampus was declined in Shenxiong Huayu Capsule intervention group compared with that in the VD model group (P<0.01). Conclusions: The decline of learning and memory abilities of the VD rats is related to the increasing of P38MAPK

and Shenxiong Huayu Capsule could decrease the expression of P38MAPK in the CA1 area of hippocampus in VD rats and improve the abilities of learning and memory for the VD rats.