Effects of ear point needle embedding therapy on memory disorder and expression of beta-amyloid protein in the rat of vascular dementia / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of auricular acupuncture for improvement of learning and memory disorders in the rat of vascular dementia (VD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The vascular dementia rat model was made by 4-vessel occlusion method. Four groups, a sham operation group, a normal control group, a model group and an auricular acupuncture group were set up. After acupuncture was given at auricular points, Brain and Kidney. Immunohistochemical analysis, behavioural observation and computer image analysis were made.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Auricular acupuncture could decrease significantly the beta-amyloid protein (A beta) immunoreactivive neurons and increase its average optical density in the parietal cortex of the VD rats (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Auricular acupuncture can reduce or inhibit the over-production of Abeta in the brain, so as to improve the learning and memory capacity of the VD model rat.</p>