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Neurogranin (Ng), as a neuron-specific postsynaptic protein, is abundant in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Ng may alter the affinity with calmodulin through phosphorylation and redox, and participate in the calcium signal pathway through glutamate receptor, to regulate the information transfer and synaptic plasticity. Ng involves in the formation and encoding of memories in related brain regions and plays an important role in learning, memory and cognitive function. Ng is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and can be used as a synaptic biomarker for diagnosis. Cognitive dysfunction after stroke is associated with decrease of Ng expression in the brain. Ng is one of the sites of genetic variants associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia.
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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.
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Objective To explore the effects of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (GV24) on Alzheimer's disease, and possible mechanism for it.Methods A total of 24 eight-month-old APP/PS1 male mice were randomly divided into model group (n = 8), electroacupuncture group (n = 8) and non-acupoint group (n = 8), and other eight wild-type mice were as wild-type group.The electroacupuncture group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting, while the non-acupoint group accepted electroacupuncture at bilateral subcostal non-acupoint area, and the wild-type group and the model group accepted the same grasping and fixing, for 28 days. Then they assessed with Morris water maze test. The levels of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in cerebral cortex were detected with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence respectively, and the level of BACE1 m RNA with RT-PCR.Results Compared with the model group, the escape latency decreased in the electroacupuncture group (P ＜ 0.001), and the times crossing platforms increased (P ＜ 0.001), while the expression of BACE1 and Aβ decreased (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Electroacupuncture may improve the learning-memory ability by inhibiting the expression of BACE1 in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice to decreasing the level of Aβ.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The virtual reality (VR) system can provide the neurosurgeon to intuitively interact with and manipulate the three dimensional (3-D) image similarly to manipulate a real object. It was seldom reported that the system was used in diagnosis and treatment of cerebral aneurysms. This study aimed to investigate the application of VR system in diagnosis and therapeutic planning of cerebral aneurysms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 24 cases of cerebral aneurysms were enrolled in this study from 2006 to 2008, which diagnosed by 3-D digital subtraction angiography (3D-DSA) or VR-based computed tomography angiographies (CTA). The VR system and 3D-DSA system were used to observe and measure aneurysms and the adjacent vessels. The data of observation and measurements were compared between VR image and 3D-DSA image. All the patients underwent surgical plan and simulated neurosurgical procedures in the VR system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 28 aneurysms detected in VR system and 3D-DSA system. The VR system generated clear and vivid 3-D virtual images which clearly displayed the location and size of the aneurysms and their precise anatomical spatial relations to the parent arteries and skull. The location, size and shape of the aneurysms and their anatomical relationship with the adjacent vessels were similar between 3-D virtual image and 3D-DSA, but the spatial relationship between aneurysms and skull only been displayed by VR system. This VR system also could simulate simple surgical procedures and surgical environments.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The VR system can provide a highly effective way to provide precise imaging details as same as 3D-DSA system and assist the diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms with virtual 3-D data based on CTA. It significantly enhances the chosen therapeutic strategy of cerebral aneurysms.</p>