Effects of Electroacupuncture on White Matter Fibers and Learning-memory Function in Rats with Vascular Dementia / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) acupoints on white matter fiber and learning-memory function in rats with vascular dementia (VD). Methods:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into operation group and sham group (n = 8). The operation group accepted two-vessel occlusion, while the sham group only separated the bilateral common carotid arteries without ligation. The rats modeled successfully were randomly divided into model group (n = 8), non-acupoint group (n = 8) and electroacupuncture group (n = 8). The electroacupuncture group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting, and the non-acupoint group accepted electroacupuncture at axillary non-acupoint, once a day for 28 days. All the rats were tested with object recognition test before and after intervention, while the white matter fibers were observed with Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Results:Compared with the sham group, the preference coefficients of the model group, the non-acupoint group and the electroacupuncture group decreased before intervention (P< 0.05), and there was no significant difference among the later three groups (P> 0.05). The preference coefficients increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group after intervention (P< 0.05). The fractional anisotropy (FA) of corpus callosum, cingulate gyrus and hippocampus decreased in the model group, the non-acupoint group and the electroacupuncture group compared with the sham group before intervention. FA of hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, corpus callosum and external capsule increased in the electroacupuncture group compared with the model group after intervention. Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting can improve learning-memory function of VD rats, which may be related with repairment of white matter fibers in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and others.