Effect of Electroacupuncture on Learning-memory and Expression of β-site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 in APP/PS1 Mice / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effects of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (GV24) on Alzheimer's disease, and possible mechanism for it.Methods A total of 24 eight-month-old APP/PS1 male mice were randomly divided into model group (n = 8), electroacupuncture group (n = 8) and non-acupoint group (n = 8), and other eight wild-type mice were as wild-type group.The electroacupuncture group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting, while the non-acupoint group accepted electroacupuncture at bilateral subcostal non-acupoint area, and the wild-type group and the model group accepted the same grasping and fixing, for 28 days. Then they assessed with Morris water maze test. The levels of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in cerebral cortex were detected with immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence respectively, and the level of BACE1 m RNA with RT-PCR.Results Compared with the model group, the escape latency decreased in the electroacupuncture group (P ＜ 0.001), and the times crossing platforms increased (P ＜ 0.001), while the expression of BACE1 and Aβ decreased (P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Electroacupuncture may improve the learning-memory ability by inhibiting the expression of BACE1 in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice to decreasing the level of Aβ.