ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effects of different courses of electro-acupuncture at Baihui,Fengfu,and Shenshu of both sides on the behavior of mice exposed to radiation.Methods Fifty C57BL/6Jmice 30 days old were randomly and equally divided into control group,model group (exposure to radiation of 8 Gy),electro-acupuncture group 1 (1 week of treatment),electro-acupuncture group 2 (2 weeks of treatment),and electro-acupuncture group 3 (3 weeks of treatment).The mouse model of radiation-induced brain injury was established by exposure to radiation of 8 Gy and treated with electro-acupuncture.The open field test and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate the cognitive function and spatial learning and memory,respectively.Group t-test difference.Results In the open field test,the model group had significantly fewer vertical or horizontal movements than the control group (P=0.032,0.029,0.028),while the electro-acupuncture groups 2 and 3 had significantly more vertical or horizontal movements than the model group (P=0.001,0.017,0.000).In the Morris water maze test,compared with the control group,the model group had significantly longer latency,a significantly lower frequency of entry into the goal box,and significantly shortened residence time,indicating substantially worse performance of spatial learning and memory (P=0.023,0.001,0.001).Compared with the model group,the electro-acupuncture groups 2 and 3 had significantly shortened latency,a significantly higher frequency of entry into the goal box,and significantly longer residence time (P=0.046,0.017,0.049,0.007,0.031,0.009).Conclusions Different courses of electro-acupuncture treatment at Baihui,Fengfu,and Shenshu of both sides can substantially improve the cognitive function and spatial learning and memory in mice exposed to radiation.Particularly,2 and 3 weeks of electro-acupuncture treatment give the best outcomes.