ShenmaYizhi Decoction Improves the Mitochondrial Structure in the Brain and Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in VCI Rats via the AMPK/UCP2 Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND: ShenmaYizhi decoction (SMYZD) is an effective prescription of traditional Chinese medicine used to treat vascular dementia (VD). Modern research methods have identified its active ingredients clearly as gastrodin, ferulic acid, ginsenosides, and β-sitosterol. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion is a driving factor or risk factor for VD, which leads to the disturbance of mitochondrial structure and function. PURPOSE: To observe whether SMYZD improves cognitive impairment by improving mitochondrial structure and function. METHODS: Forty adult rats with vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) caused by the bilateral ligation of common carotid arteries were divided into four groups randomly, including the model group, donepezil group, and low-dose and high-dose SMYZD groups, with 10 rats in each group. Additionally, a sham group was established with 10 rats as the control group. The treatment groups were administered donepezil and two different dosages of SMYZD. The donepezil group was administered 0.45 mg/kg/d donepezil, and the SMYZ-L group was administered 2.97 g/kg/d SMYZ, which were equivalent to the clinical dosage. The SMYZ-H group was administered 11.88 g/kg/d SMYZ, which is 4 times higher than the clinically equivalent dosage. A sham-operated group was used as the control group and administered an equal volume of distilled water. The rats were treated by gavage for 8 consecutive weeks. Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to evaluate the learning and memory ability. The mitochondria of brain tissue were extracted from brain for further test. Mitochondrial morphology and the signal path of AMPK/PPARα/PGC-1α/UCP2 in mitochondria were detected. RESULTS: With the SMYZD intervention, behavioral performance of rats and pathological changes of mitochondria of brain tissue were significantly improved. In the serum, SOD, GSH-Px, and GSH activities were increased, and the MDA content was decreased. Moreover, the AMPK, PPARα, PGC-1α, UCP2, and ATP5A mRNA and protein expression levels were also reversed by SMYZD. CONCLUSION: SMYZD may provide a potential therapeutic strategy via activating the AMPK/PPARα/PGC-1α/UCP2 signal pathway to improve mitochondrial structure and energy metabolism thereby alleviate vascular cognitive impairment.