Effects of Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting on Learning and Memory and Expression of Purinoceptor P2X7 in Hippocampal CA1 after Cerebral Ischmeia-reperfusion in Rats / 中国康复理论与实践

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.