Protective Effects of Electro-acupuncture Serum on β-amyloid Protein Induced Damage of Primarily Cultured Rat Hippcampal Neurons / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the protective effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) serum onβ-amyloid protein (Aβ) induced primary rat hippcampal neurons. Methods The rat models of Alzheimer's disease were established by intracerebral injection of Aβ1-40. After treated them with EA, the serum was harvested. Primary cultured hippocampal neurons were treated with Aβ25-35 to establish neuronal damage model in vitro, and divided into normal group, model group and EA serum group. The proliferation of neurons was detected by MTT test. Neuronal apoptosis was examined by TUNEL staining, and expression of cysteine aspartic acid proteases-3 (Caspase-3) was detected by immunocytochemical staining. Results MTT test showed that the cell viability was significantly decreased after treated with Aβ. While compared with the model group, cell proliferation of EA serum group was significantly enhanced (P<0.01). TUNEL staining showed that the number of apoptotic cells in EA serum group decreased significantly compared with the model group (P<0.01). After 48 h of Aβ treatment, Caspase-3 expression levels were significantly elevated. However, compared with the model group, the number of Caspase-3 positive cells in EA serum group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion The EA serum could promote the proliferation of hippocampal neurons, reduce the expression of Caspase-3, counteract the neurotoxicity of β-amyloid protein, and reduce neuronal apoptosis.