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.
ABSTRACT
Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) are a metabolite of probiotics which have gained wide interest recently, but little is known about their function. EPS was isolated from Bifidobacterium longum BCRC 14634 and sterilized by 0.22 µm filter. The proliferation of J77A.1 macrophages and their secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) was elevated after treatment with heat-killed B. longum or 5 µg/mL EPS. The endotoxin, lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a potent inducer of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), significantly suppressed the growth of J77A.1 cells, and induced the secretion of TNF-α from J774A.1 cells. Furthermore, 24h pretreatment with 5 µg/ml EPS suppressed 100 ng/ml LPS-induced cell growth inhibition and release of TNF-α from J774A.1 cells. Additional experiments showed that 80 µg/mL EPS had antimicrobial activity against 7 species of food-spoilage and infection bacteria. Our results suggest that EPS from B. longum might be useful as a mild immune modulator for macrophages, contributing to the capacity of B. longum to fight against gastrointestinal infections, and even some food-spoilage microbe.
