• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.61-73
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• 2006

Objective : This study was to investigate the effects of Banhabaekchulchunma-Tang(BCT) on Dementia induced by focal ischemic injury in the rats. Method : Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups ; Normal group, Control group, BCT1 group and BCT2 group. Control group were no treated after focal brain ischemic injury. BCT1 group were administered BCT 0.3 ml/kg to focal brain ischemic injuried rats for 21 days, BCT2 group were administered BCT 1.2 ml/kg to focal brain ischemic injuried rats for 21 days. The present author observed the number of errors on the eight-arm radial maze task , the rate of correct choice on the eight-arm radial maze task, the values of density of Cresyl Violet-stained sections in the hippocampal CA1 and the values of density of Acetlycholin Esterase(AchE) stained nuclei in the hippocampal CA1. Result : 1. The number of errors in the eight-arm radial maze task was significantly decreased in BCT1 group on 1-6th days. And it was significantly decreased in BCT2 group on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th day compared with control group. 2. The rate of correct choice on the eight-arm radial maze task was increased in BCT1 group and BCT2 group compared with control group, but the value was not significant. 3. The values of density of Cresyl Violet-stained sections in the hippocampal CA1 were significantly increased in BCT1 group and BCT2 group compared with control group. 4. The values of density of AchE stained nuclei in the hippocampal CA1 were significantly increased in BCT1 group compared with control group. Conclusion : The present author thought that Banhabaekchulchunma-Tang could be used to cure dementia derived by the phlegm retention of fluid.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.45-56
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• 2006

Objective: Yukmijibwang-Tang(UJT) has been used for Dementia derived by deficiency of Kidney-Yin in the oriental medicine. This study was planned to examine the effects of UJT on the memory loss induced by focal brain ischemic injury in the rats. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups ; Normal group, Control group, UJT1 group and UJT2 group. Control group were no treated after focal brain ischemic injury. UJT1 group were administered UJT 0.3 $m{\ell}/kg$ to focal brain ischemic injuried rats for 21 days, UJT2 group were administered UJT 1.2 $m{\ell}/kg$ to focal brain ischemic injuried rats for 21 days. The present author observed the number of errors on the eight-arm radial maze task, the rate of correct choice on the eight-arm radial maze task, the values of density of Cresy1 violet- stained sections in the hippocampal CA1 and the values of density of Acetlycholine Esterase (AchE)stained nuclei in the hippocampal CA1. Results : The number of errors in the Eigth-arm radial maze task was significantly decreased in UJT1 group on 1, 2, 3, 5, 6days, And it was significantly decreased in UJT2 group on 1-6days compared with control group. The rate of correct choice in the eight-arm radial maze task was significantly increased in UJT1, UJT2 group compared with control group. The values of density of Cresyl violet-stained stained sections in the hippocampal CA1 were significantly increased in UJT1, UJT2 group compared with control group. The values of density of AchE in the hippocampal CA1 were increased in UJT1, UJT2 group compared with control group, but the values were not significant. Conclusions: The present author thought that Yukmijihwang-Tang could he used for curing dementia induced by focal brain ischemic injury.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1777-1783
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine the effects Wonjiseokchangpo-san on brain damage in transient focal cerebral ischemia. Rats were used for testing in the following three models: Morris Water Maze, Eight-Arm Radial Maze, and Histochemistry. In the Morris Water Maze Model, the Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant decrease in the 3rd and 6th training session compared with the ischemia group. A retention test, in the Morris Water Maze Model, was performed on the 7th day without the escape platform. The Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. In the Eight-Arm radial Maze model, the Wonjiseokchangpo-san group showed significant decrease in the error rate compared to the ischemia group. In the density of hippocampal CA1 cell of the cresyl violet-stained section, the Wonjiseokahangpo-san group showed significant increase compared to the ischemia group. These results suggest that Wonjiseokchangpo-san may have a significant protective effect on brain damage and cognitive dysfunction in transient focal cerebral ischemia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2002

Kupunggibodan(KU), Gamisamul-tang(GA) and Whangryunhaedok-tang(WH) are clinically the most popular prescriptions as an herbal medicine in the treatment of ischemia. In order to compare and evaluate their protective effects on the ischema-induced cognitive deficits by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), we examined its ability to improve ischemia-induced cell loss and impairements of learning and memory in the Morris water maze and eight-arm radial arm maze. Focal cerebral ischemia produced a marked cell loss, decrease in acetylcholinesterase(AchE) reactivity in the hippocampus, and learning and memory deficits in two behavioral tasks. Pretreatment with WH (100 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a substantial increase in acquisition in the Morris water maze. Pretreatment with KU increased the perfomance of the resention test in the Morris water maze. WH, KU and GA caused a significant improvement in choice accuracy in radial arm maze test. WH was superior to KU and GA in perfomance of the radial arm maze test. Consistent with behavioral data, staining with cresyl violet showed that pretreatments with WH, but not KU and GA significantly recovered the ischemia-induced cell loss in the hippcampal CA1 area. In addition, pretreatments with WH and KU recovered the ischemia-induced reduction of AchE reactivity in the hippocampal CA1 area. These results demonstrated that KU, GA and WH have protective effects against ischimea-induced learning and memory impairments and that the efficacy was the order of WH>KU>GA in tratment of ischemia induced memory deficits. The present studies provide an evidence of KU, GA and WH as putative treatment of vascular dementia. Supported by a fund from the Ministry of Health and Welfare(HMP-00-OO-04-0004), and the Brain Korea 21 Project from Korean Ministry of Education, Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2009

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of Yukmijihwangtang on cerebral ischemia-induced learning and memory impairment by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in rats. Methods: The ability of learning and memory of rats was measured using the eight-arm radial maze and the passive avoidance test, and profile of cholinergic neuron was assessed in the medial septum and hippocampus region by immuno-histochemistry. Results: 1. No differences were found between groups in the number of correct choices in acquisition performance during the eight-arm radial maze task. 2. No differences were found between groups on day 1 in the error rate in acquisition performance, which is defined as the number of enters into the same arm more than once within five minutes. After 5 to 6 days of test, the number of errors was significantly reduced in the Yukmijihwangtang group (forebrain ischemia group with Yukmijihwangtang treatment), compared with the ischemia group. 3. The memory processes significantly improved in the Yukmijihwangtang group according to results of the passive avoidance test. 4. The appearance of AchE (acetylcholinesterase) in the CA1 region of hippocampus significantly decreased in the ischemia group, compared with the sham group (untreated group). The appearance of AchE in the same region significantly increased in the Yukmijihwangtang group, compared with the ischemia group. 5. The appearance of ChAT (choline acetyltransferase) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and medial septum decreased in the ischemia group, compared with the sham group. The appearance of ChAT in the same region significantly increased in the Yukmijihwangtang group, compared with the ischemia group Conclusions: This study provides evidence that Yukmijihwangtang is effective for reviving the ability of learning and memory and damaged neurons in rats with experimental cerebral ischemia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-49
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• 2000

This study was conducted to prove that there exists a relation between the spleen and learning and memory as Oriental medicine believesTo promote the function of the Spleen, Guibitang was administered to rats in this study. Rats were 250～300g Sprague-Dawley, and were divided into three groups. One was the normal group without any pretreatment. Another was the control group which was administered normal saline and the abdominal injection of L-NAME before learning and memory test. And the 3rd was the sample group, to which was administered Guibitang extract and (no 'the') abdominal injection of L-NAME before the learning and memory test. Each group was made up of 12 rats. Morris water maze and radial arm maze tasks were performed in the learning test and Morris water maze task in the memory test. For 2 days to evaluate the ability of learning in the Morris water maze, 16 trials were carried out and first latency(lapse time to find the escape platform for the first time) was measured. The next day, to evaluate the ability of memory, the escape platform was eliminated from the maze, and total path, target entry number, first latency and memory score were measured. 48hrs before the radial arm maze task was performed, bait was deprived from each group. After learning test, bait was permitted to each group. So 85% of the body weight was maintained for 6 days of the test. Each of the eight arms was baited; correct choice numer and error were counted; each trial was finished when the rat had entered each of the eight arms, or more than 10 minutes had elapsed. The results were as follows: In the learning test, the first latency of the sample group in the Morris water maze showed evident improvement of learning compared to control group at the 11th, 12th, 13th trial of 16 trials, and correct choice number in radial arm maze showed noticeable improvement compared to the control group at 3rd, 4th and 5th; In the memory test, the memory score of the sample group showed evident improvement compared to the control group. From the above results, the administration of Guibitang, which tonifies the function of the Spleen, could enhance the ability of learning and memory. So it was suggested that the Spleen has a relation with learning and memory.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.67-76
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• 2008

Objectives : Amnesia is theloss or impairment of memory, caused by physical injury, disease, drugs, or emotional trauma. Recently, the average life span is increasing, while at the same time, the incidence of dementia-like diseases in conjunction with amnesia are also increasing. Therefore learning and memory are very important issues in modern society. Ancient Korean physicians used several herbs to treat dementia and these herbal effects were described in Korean herbal books. Among them are some reports on several cognitive-enhancing herbs which have since been shown to improve dementia in recent pharmacological studies, such as Panax ginseng; however, the facilitatory effects of many Korean cognitive-enhancing herbs on learning and memory are limited. Learning and memory are essential requirements for every living organism in order to cope with environmental demands; cholinergic systems are known to be involved in learning and memory. Methods : In this study, the effects of Acori graminei rhizoma (AGR, 石菖蒲) on learning and memory were investigated by Morris water maze, eight-arm radial maze, and the effects on the central cholinergic system of rats injected with scopolamine. Results : In the water maze, the experimental animals were trained to find a platform in a fixed position for 6 days and then received a 60 sec probe trial in which the platform was removed from the pool on the 7th day. In the eight-arm radial maze, the animals were tested four times per day for 6 days. Scopolamine impaired performance of the maze tests and reduced activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) in the hippocampus, which is a marker for the central cholinergic system. There were significant reversals from the scopolamine-induced deficits on learning and memory in these tests, through daily administrations of AGR (100 mg/kg, p.o.) over 14 consecutive days. These treatments also reduced the loss of cholinergic activity in the hippocampus induced by scopolamine. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that AGR ameliorated learning and memory deficits by affecting the central acetylcholine system.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 1998

Purpose: This study was conducted to find out the effects od Sahyangsohapwon on learning and memory of rats.Method: In the experiment, rats were divided two groups. One was control group which was adminstered Sahyangsohapwon and the other was sample group administered placebo. Numbers of each group were 13 rats. 8-arm radial maze task was used in it, and working memory test and retention(reference memory) test were done.Before the beginning of the test, the rats were deprived of water for 24hrs.In the frist test, each of eight arm was baited with water and a rat was permitted to remain on the maze until all eight arms were entered. A working memory error was defined as revisit of any previously entered arm. When a rat made an error not exceeding one time in consecutive 3 days-performance, it was regarded as learning criteria and the test was ended. The reference memory was evaluated with total days which it took rats to pass the learning crtirtia.The second test was performed after 24 hours when the first test was over. When a rat entered 4 arms, the entrance of arm was cut off during 30 seconds.Here the number if errors which was produced during a rat find remaining 4 tracks was regarded as the index of memory.This experiment compared the number of error at the control group with that of the sample group.Result: 1. In the first test, it was shown that the sample group took 7.69${\pm}$1.11 days and the control group 9.31${\pm}$1.97 days to pass the learning criteria.There was statistically significant reference mernory development at the sample group.2. In the second test, the frequency of errors made by the two groups were 0.92${\pm}$1.32 times for the control group and 1.23${\pm}$1.59 times for the Sahyangsohapwon group. There was no difference between the groups in frequency of errors.Conclusion: It is suggested that Sahyangsohapwon has effects on the improvement of learning and memory.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-113
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• 2009

Objectives This study was investigated to find how the orally administrated Moschus, herbal combination with Moschus, and herbal combination improves the rats' memory and rats' liver. These medications are generally known asthe memory improvement. Methods This study used the Sprague Dawley rats. They were divided into two groups - SD rats and orally administrated Saline(Control group). 0.473 mg/kg Moschus(HM-A), 153.9 mg/kg herbal composition without Moschus(HM-B), and 165.95 mg/kg herbal composition with Moschus combined(HM-C) Control, saline were orally administered. Each group was trained in the eight-arm radial maze task at the conditions of before oral administrated, and also right after third, sixth, and eighth by oral administration. Lastly, these animals were killed and were tested for brain tissue and serum AST/ALT level to measure how the medications were effected to the liver function. Results The result of radial eight-arm maze task test, the HM-B and HM-C groups showed significant decrease in mistakes from the fourth day of testing. Whereas, the HM-A group showed increasing in the error rate. HM-A and HM-C group of rats had significantly increased amount of acetylcholinesterase in the CA1 region of hippocampus, compared to the control group. Whereas, HM-B and HM-C group had increased level of ChAT compared to the control group. On the other hand, each experimental group did not show any significant difference to the level of serum AST/ALT and the weight ratio of the liver to the body. Conclusions This study provided evidences that the orally administered memory improvement herbal medication, and Moschus were effective to improve memory.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 1999

It is widely known that the hippocampus plays an important role in spatial memory. Recent studies have suggested that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is involved in spatial memory. However it is unclear whether the PPC is involved in w working memory or reference memory of spatial learning. The purpose of the present study was to determine contribution of the hippocampus and the PPC to spatial working memory and acquisition of reference memory. Using an eight-arm radial maze in which e each arm was baited. working memory was tested by measuring rat's ability to remember arms they had visited. Reference memory was tested by measuring rat's ability to avoid visiting four consistently unbaited arms. Effects of hippocampal or PPC lesion on working memory or acquisition of reference memory in radial-arm maze learning were investigated Working memory was impaired by hippocampal lesion whereas not affected by PPC lesion. Acquisition of reference memory was impaired by lesion in either site. The results suggest that the hippocampus plays an important role in the spatial working memory while both the hippocampus and the PPC contribute to the acquisition of spatial reference memory.