3-N-butylphthalide improves neuronal morphology after chronic cerebral ischemia

3-N-butylphthalide is an ettectwe drug for acute iscemlc stroke. However, its effects on cnromc cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal injury remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study li- gated bilateral carotid arteries in 15-month-old rats to simulate chronic cerebral ischemia in aged humans. Aged rats were then intragastrically administered 3-n-butylphthalide. 3-N-butylphtha- lide administration improved the neuronal morphology in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats with chronic cerebral ischemia, increased choline acetyltransferase activity, and decreased malondialdehyde and amyloid beta levels, and greatly improved cognitive function. These findings suggest that 3-n-butylphthalide alleviates oxidative stress caused by chronic cerebral ischemia, improves cholinergic function, and inhibits amyloid beta accumulation, thereby im- proving cerebral neuronal injury and cognitive deficits.