ABSTRACT
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.
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
β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque deposition, neurofibrillary tangles and neuroinflammation are important pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglial membrane receptors, such as triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2, Toll-like receptors, complement system and scavenger receptor, play a key role that mediate neuroinflammatory responses, promote Aβ clearance and signal transduction.
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.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints may regulate microRNA-34a (miR-34a) to promote neural stem cells differentiation in ischemic peripheral areas in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury or not. Methods:A total of 108 rats were randomly assigned into sham group, model group and EA group, and each group was divided into three subgroups (three days, seven days and 14 days), with twelve rats in each subgroup. Besides, 16 rats were randomly divided into EA+dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group and EA+miR-34a inhibitor group, with eight rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was induced for focal cerebral ischemia in rats. EA group was electroacupunctured at the ipsilateral Quchi and Zusanli acupoints on the second day. The dilatational wave was 1/20 Hz, 30 minutes every time, once a day for seven days, totally. At the same time, 5-Bromo-2′-Deoxyuridine (BrdU) was intraperitoneally injected twice a day, with an 8-hours interval. The DMSO and miR-34a inhibitor were injected into the lateral ventricle before modeling. The co-location condition was evaluated by immunofluorescence. The expression of miR-34a in ischemic peripheral areas was detected by reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:The Longa's score was lower in EA group than in the model group (t > 2.084, P < 0.05). At the same time points, the paw print areas (right forepaw, right hind paw) and maximum pressures (right forepaw, right hind paw) of the affected limbs decreased in the model group than in the sham group (P < 0.05), and the paw print area of right hind paw gradually increased in the model group (P < 0.05); the paw print areas (right forepaw and right hind paw) of the affected limbs improved in EA group, compared with the model group (P < 0.05); and there was no significant difference in the maximum pressure of the affected limbs three days and seven days after electroacupuncture (P > 0.05); however, it was higher in EA group than in the model group 14 days after electroacupuncture (P < 0.05). And the paw print area of the right hind paw and the maximum pressure of the right forepaw gradually increased in EA group three days and seven days after electroacupuncture, which was in time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The Nestin+/GFAP+ and BrdU+/GFAP+ cells expressed in ischemic peripheral areas both in the model group and EA group. And the Nestin+/GFAP+ and BrdU+/GFAP+ double positive cells increased in EA group compared to the model group three days, seven days and 14 days after electroacupuncture (t > 3.292, P < 0.05), and they reached peak seven days after electroacupuncture. The expression of miR-34a in ischemic peripheral areas was higher in the model group than in the sham group seven days after modeling (P < 0.01), however, the expression of miR-34a further increased in EA+DMSO group after electroacupuncture (P < 0.05). After injection of miR-34a inhibitor, the expression of miR-34a and BrdU+/GFAP+ cells was lower in EA+miR-34a inhibitor group than in EA group (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli acupoints could promote the neural stem cells differentiation in ischemic peripheral areas by regulation of miR-34a expression.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Shenting (GV24) on learning and memory in rats after cerebral ischmeia-reperfusion and the possible mechanism. Methods A total of 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=12) and operation group (n=30). The left middle cerebral arteries of the operation group were occluded with the modified Longa's method for 90 minutes and reperfused, and 24 qualified rats were randomly divided into model group (n=12) and elec-troacupuncture group (n=12), and the latter accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting for seven days. They were assessed with Longa's score two hours after modeling, and one, three, seven days after intervention. They were tested with Barnes maze since three days after intervention, once a day for five days. The expression of purinoceptor P2X7 in CA1 of the hippocampus were detected with immunofluorescence seven days after inter-vention, while the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in CA1 were detect-ed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The Longa's score was improved in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the model group seven days after intervention (P<0.05); while the escape latency and the times entering the wrong hole increased in the model group compared with that in the sham group (P<0.001), and decreased in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the model group (P<0.001). The expression of P2X7, IL-1β and TNF-α increased in the model group compared with the sham operation group (P<0.001), and decreased in the electroacupuncture group compared with that in the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting can improve the learning and memory in rats after cerebral isch-emia-reperfusion, which may associate with inhibition of P2X7 to alleviate inflammation in hippocampus.
ABSTRACT
DNA marker-assisted selection of medicinal plants is based on the DNA polymorphism, selects the DNA sequences related to the phenotypes such as high yields, superior quality, stress-resistance and so on according to the technologies of molecular hybridization, polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing, and assists the breeding of new cultivars. This study bred the first disease-resistant cultivar of notoginseng "Miaoxiang Kangqi 1" using the technology of DNA marker-assisted selection of medicinal plants and systematic breeding. The disease-resistant cultivar of notoginseng contained 12 special SNPs based on the analysis of Restriction-site Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-Seq). Among the SNP (record_519688) was related to the root rot-resistant characteristics, which indicated this SNP could serve as genetic markers of disease-resistant cultivars and assist the systematic breeding. Compared to the conventional cultivated cultivars, the incidence rate of root-rot and rust-rot in notoginseng seedlings decreased by 83.6% and 71.8%, respectively. The incidence rate of root-rot respectively declined by 43.6% and 62.9% in notoginseng cultivation for 2 and 3 years compared with those of the conventional cultivated cultivars. Additionally, the potential disease-resistant groups were screened based on the relative SNP, and this model enlarged the target groups and advanced the breeding efficiency. DNA marker-assisted selection of medicinal plants accelerated the breeding and promotion of new cultivars, and guaranteed the healthy development of Chinese medicinal materials industry.
ABSTRACT
DNA marked-assisted selection of medicinal plants accelerated the breeding and promotion of new cultivars, and guaranteed the healthy development of Chinese medicinal materials industry. The first disease-resistant cultivar of notoginseng, namely "Miaoxiang Kangqi 1", served as the object of study. We evaluated the Kangqi's resistance of seeds, seedlings and root against the pathological bacteria (Fusarum oxysporum) of root rot. Compared to the traditional cultivars, the disease index of notoginseng seeds declined by 52.0% after inoculation for seven days; the death rate of seedlings and disease index of root respectively decreased by 72.1% and 62.4% after inoculation for 25 days. Additionally, the growth inhibition ratio of notoginseng seeds and seedlings declined after inoculation. The seeds, seedlings and roots of "Miaoxiang Kangqi 1" showed significantly resistant to root rot. The evaluation of disease-resistance of Kangqi provided the basis for the popularization of new cultivar and guaranteed the favoring conduct of notoginseng pollution-free cultivation.