RESUMO
Objective:To observe any effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) in mice modeling Alzheimer′s disease (AD) and also any effect on learning and memory.Methods:Thirty male APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into a model group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group, and a no acupuncture (NA) group, each of 10. All the animals were modeled as AD. Ten C57BL/6 mice served as a control group. The mice in the EA and NA groups were given continuous 50Hz EA at a current intensity of 1mA at and near the Baihui (GV20) and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints, respectively, once a day for 14 days, while the other two groups were not given any EA. The mice in the model and control groups continued to be routinely fed without any special treatment such as electroacupuncture. After the intervention, any behavioral changes were evaluated by using a Morris Water Maze, and the expression of L1CAM, PTEN and p53 protein in the hippocampus of each group was detected using western blotting.Results:Compared with the control group, the escape latency in positioning navigation experiments was significantly longer in the model group on the first 5 days of Morris Water Maze testing. Compared with the model group, the escape latency was significantly shorter in the EA group on days 2 to 5 of the Morris Water Maze testing, and the expression of L1CAM had increased significantly in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group while PTEN and p53 expression had decreased significantly. The average escape latency of the NA group was significantly longer than that of the model group on days 2 to 5 of the Morris Water Maze testing. The average L1CAM expression in the NA group had decreased significantly, and the expression of PTEN and p53 protein had increased significantly more than in the EA group. The escape latency was negatively correlated with L1CAM expression but positively correlated with p53 protein and PTEN expression.Conclusion:L1CAM is involved in learning and memory processes, at least in mice. Electroacupuncture can improve the learning and memory of mice modeling Alzheimer′s, which may be due to its promoting the expression of L1CAM and inhibiting the expression of PTEN and p53.