ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) acupoints on white matter fiber and learning-memory function in rats with vascular dementia (VD). Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into operation group and sham group (n = 8). The operation group accepted two-vessel occlusion, while the sham group only separated the bilateral common carotid arteries without ligation. The rats modeled successfully were randomly divided into model group (n = 8), non-acupoint group (n = 8) and electroacupuncture group (n = 8). The electroacupuncture group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting, and the non-acupoint group accepted electroacupuncture at axillary non-acupoint, once a day for 28 days. All the rats were tested with object recognition test before and after intervention, while the white matter fibers were observed with Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Results:Compared with the sham group, the preference coefficients of the model group, the non-acupoint group and the electroacupuncture group decreased before intervention (P< 0.05), and there was no significant difference among the later three groups (P> 0.05). The preference coefficients increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group after intervention (P< 0.05). The fractional anisotropy (FA) of corpus callosum, cingulate gyrus and hippocampus decreased in the model group, the non-acupoint group and the electroacupuncture group compared with the sham group before intervention. FA of hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, corpus callosum and external capsule increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group after intervention. Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting can improve learning-memory function of VD rats, which may be related with repairment of white matter fibers in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and others.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) on brain function of APP/PS1 mice. Methods:Sixteen 4-month-old APP/PS1 mice in the same litter were randomly divided into model group (n = 8) and electroacupuncture group (n = 8). Eight transgenic negative mice in the same litter were as control group. The electroacupuncture group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting for 16 weeks. They were assessed with Object Recognition Test before and after intervention, and observed under small animal functional magnetic resonance imaging with regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis. Results:Compared with the control group, the discrimination ratio decreased in the model group after intervention (P < 0.05), while it increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, ReHo of right basal forebrain and left hippocampus decreased in the model group before intervention. Compared with the control group, ReHo decreased in bilateral hippocampus group and increased in retrosplenial cortex in the model group after intervention; while it increased in bilateral hippocampus and motor cortex and decreased in anterior cingulate gyrus in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the model group. Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting may delay the decline of learning and memory ability in Alzheimer's disease model mice, which may relate to the regulation of functional activities in hippocampus.