Abstract: ［Abstract］ Objective〖HTSS〗〓To investigate the protective effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hUCMSCs) against Aβ induced learning and memory impairment in rats, and to explore the mechanism of the protective effect of hUCMSCs.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Methods〖HTSS〗〓Male SD rats weighting 210-230 g were divided randomly into five groups with ten in each: control group, sham group, vehiclecontrol group, Aβ injury group, and hUCMSCs treatment group. The Morris water maze behavioral task was employed to test the spatial learning and memory ability of the animals 1 week after hUCMSCs treatment. The expression of TNFα and IL1β in the hippocampus were investigated by enzyme linked immunesorbent assay after behavioral test. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and lonized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 were investigated by Western blot.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Results〖HTSS〗〓Compared with Aβ injury group, hUCMSCs treatment decreased the escape latency and increased the platform crossings number and Ⅳ time ratio in the Morris water maze behavioral task(P＜005). Compared with Aβ injury group, hUCMSCs treatment decreased the expression of TNFα(P＜005), IL1β(P＜005), and GFAP(P＜005) in the hippocampus of rats.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Conclusion〖HTSS〗〓hUCMSCs treatment reversed the behavioral impairment of Aβ treated rats. Its neuroprotective effect is related to the inhibition of astrocyte activation and then to reduce the expression of inflammatory factors.

Key words: Alzheimer disease； mesenchymal stem cells； , astrocytes