Effects of Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting on Learning-memory Function and Ultrastructure in Hip-pocampal CA1 in Cerebral Ischmeia-reperfusion 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-memory function and ultrastructure in hippocampal CA1 region of rats after cerebral ischmeia-reperfusion. Methods A total of 25 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=6) and operation group (n=19). The operation group was occluded the left middle cerebral arter-ies with modified Longa's methods for 90 minutes and reperfused, and twelve qualified rats of them were randomly divided into model group (n=6) and electroacupuncture group (n=6), the later accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting for seven days. They were as-sessed with Longa's scores, and tested with Barnes maze. Their cerebral infarct volume was tested with magnetic resonance imaging T2-weighted image. The ultrastructure of synapse in hippocampal CA1 region was observed with transmission electron microscope. Results Compared with the model group, the Longa's score improved (P<0.05), the infarct volume decreased (P<0.01), the average escape latency decreased (P<0.01) and the times entering the wrong hole decreased (P<0.001) in the electroacupuncture group. Under the transmission elec-tron microscope, the number of synapse decreased in the model group, with the structure damage and vesicles sparse;compared with the model group, the number of synapse increased in the electroacupuncture group, with clear and complete structure and rich vesicles. Conclu-sion Electroacupuncture at Baihui and Shenting can improve the learning-memory function in rats after cerebral ischmeia-reperfusion, which may relate to improvement of synaptic plasticity and ameliorating ultrastructure in hippocampal CA1 region.