Abstract: Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of p38 MAPK inhibitor on glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), taurine amino acid (Tau), glycine (Gly) and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in hippocampus of rats with vascular dementia (VD).Methods Twenty- four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, VD model group and inhibitor group. VD model was established by permanent ligation of bilateral carotid artery method, and the sham operation group stripping bilateral carotid artery but not ligation. Rats of the inhibitor group were injected p38 MAPK inhibitor SB202190 after the establishment of VD model. Morris water maze was used to evaluate the learning and memory function of rats. The samples of DG region of hippocampus were collected by microdialysis, and the contents of amino acids were detected. Results The learning and memory abilities were significantly better in sham operation group and p38 MAPK inhibitor group than those of VD model group. The latency time was significantly shorter in p38 MAPK group than that of VD model group. The time of locating the platform quadrant and the number of crossing the original platform were significantly higher in sham operation group and p38 MAPK inhibitor group than those of VD model group (P <0.05). Compared with sham group, the levels of Glu, Gln and Tau were significantly lower, and Gly and GABA were significantly higher, in VD group and p38 MAPK inhibitor group (P <0.05). Compared with VD group, Glu, Gln and Tau were significantly increased,Gly and GABA were significantly decreased in p38 MAPK inhibitor group (P <0.05). Conclusion p38 MAPK inhibitor has protective effect on VD hippocampal injury, which may be related to its ability to inhibit VD-induced abnormal secretion of amino acids and regulate the secretion of various amino acids.

Key words: dementia, vascular, hippocampus, amino acids, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, rats, Sprague-Dawley