Effects of Electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui on Ability of Learning and Memory, and LIM-domain Containing Protein Kinase 1 Phosphorylation in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

@# Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) acupoints on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and learning and memory function, and its possible mechanism in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods Thirty-two male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=8), model group (n=8), electroacupuncture (EA) group (n=8) and non-acupoint group (n=8). The model group, EA group and non-acupoint group were performed with left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The EA group received electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui, while the non-acupoint group received electroacupuncture at two fixed non-acupoints from bilateral ribs, for fourteen days. Then they were tested with Morris Water Maze test, and their synaptic structure of hippocampal neurons was observed with transmission electron microscope. The level of total LIM-domain containing protein kinase 1 (T-LIMK1) and LIM-domain containing protein kinase 1 phosphorylation (p-LIMK1) were detected with Western blotting. Results Compared with the sham group, the latency increased (t>6.789, P<0.01) and the frequence crossing platform decreased (t= 8.695, P<0.001) in the model group, while the number of synapse in hippocampal neurons decreased, and the level of T-LIMK1 (t=7.568, P< 0.01) and p-LIMK1 (t=8.874, P<0.001) decreased. Compared with the model group, the latency decreased (t>4.938, P<0.01) and the frequence crossing platform increased (t=- 7.891, P<0.001) in the EA group, while the number of synapses increased, and the level of T-LIMK1 (t=-6.473, P<0.01) and p-LIMK1 (t=-6.579, P<0.01) increased. There was no significant difference between the the non-acupoint group and the model group in all the indices (P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui can improve the ability of learning and memory in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which may relate with the increase of LIMK1 phosphorylation and hippo-campal synaptic plasticity.