Abstract: Objective This paper aims to explore the interfering effect and and possible mechanismof Cerebroprotein Hydrolysate-I (CH-I) on hippocampal neurons in mice of vascular dementia (VaD). Methods 60 male KM micewith good learning ability were selected fromtotal of 70 male KM micethrough the Y maze. Then, 10 mice were randomly selected as the sham operation group, and the remaining 50 mice were used to establish VaD mouse model. The successful modeled mice were randomly divided into model group, Cerebrolysin (CBL) positive drug, low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups received CH-I intraperitoneal injection (10, 20, 30 mg/kg body weight) dailyfor continuous administration 4 weeks. After the last administration, the learning and memory ability of mice were measured using Y maze. The cell morphology and structure of hippocampal cellswere observed by HE staining andthe apoptosis detected by TUNEL to detect, Western blot was used to analysis he protein expressions of p-Akt, Bcl-2, Caspase-9 (Casp-9), and Caspase-3 (Casp-3) in hippocampus. Results CH-I can improve the learning and memory ability of VaD mice, improve the shape and structure and apoptosis of neurons in the hippocampus, enhance the expressions of p-Akt and Bcl-2, and simutanouslyinhibit Casp-9 and Casp-3 expressions. Conclusion CH-I might inhibit apoptosisof hippocampal neurons in VaD mice byregulatingthe PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Key words: Cerebroprotein Hydrolysate-I, VaD, hippocampus, apoptosis, PI3K/Akt, mice