Objective: To observe and compare the effects of Xinglou Chengqi decoction(XLCQD) and Buyang Huanwu decoction(BYHWD) on hippocampal neurons injuried by cerebral ischemia

and then to clarify the characteristics of two recipes in phase of therapy. Method: Rats were divided randomly into sham

model

nimodipine

BYHWD and XLCQD groups. Rat focal cerebral ischemia model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) with nylon thread. The dose of two recipes was 10.8 mg·kg-1 for nimodipine

5.0 g·kg-1 for (XLCQD)

13.0 g·kg-1 for BYHWD. Rats were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage before establishing model. After operation of cerebral ischemia

rats were given the corresponding drugs once a day. Rat neurological score(NS) was evaluate and brain was taken out at 1

3 and 7 d after operation

and then the brain tissue water ratio(BTWR)

infarct area ratio(IAR)

hippocampal neurons density (HND) and brain pathological damage (BPD) were observed and determined. Result: In each model group

rats NS(18.00±0.00 vs 7.43±1.27

8.86±1.34

10.25±1.03) and HND(215.00±7.78 vs 153.57±15.62

118.71±9.98

79.38±6.02) decreased

BTWR(71.00±1.33)% vs (79.85±1.73)%

(80.84±0.98)%

(82.86±1.15)% and IAR(0.00±0.00)% vs(16.73±1.13)%

(17.89±1.54)%

(19.32±1.21)% increased

and the BPD was severed. In comparison with that of rats in each model group

NS

BTWR

HND and BPD of rats in each treatment group improved obviously

and rats' IAR reduced at 3 d and 7 d in nimodipine group and each chinese medicine group. In comparison with that in nimodipine group

the NS and HND increased in each BYHWD group

BTWR decreased and BPD weakened at 7 d group

and HND in each BYHWD and XLCQD group all increased. The improvement of NS(13.29±1.11)

BTWR(77.94±2.00)%

HND(124.29±11.64) and BPD were more significant at 7 d in BYHWD group compared with that in XLCQD group. Conclusion: It is seemed that the treatment of XLCQD and BYHWD can perform the effects on hippocampal neurons injuried by cerebral ischemia

and the roles of two kinds of recipes have no significant differencese in early ischemia(1 and 3 d)

but following the prolongation of cerebral ischemia(7 d)

BYHWD has the more comprehensive and significant roles in neurons protection and functional recovery.