Title: Effect of ear acupuncture on learning and memory abilities and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hippocampus of brain global ischemia rats
Abstract: Objective To investigate the mechanism of ear acupuncture in treatment of vascular dementia(VaD) rats. Methods Forty-five rats were divided into three groups of 15 rats each: the control group, VaD model group and ear acupuncture group. VaD animal models were established by employing modified method of Pulsinellis' four-vessel occlusion. After establishment of the model, the rats of the ear acupuncture group were given acupuncture at ear acupoints shen and xin daily for four weeks. The abilities of learning and memory of the experimental animals were assessed through Morris water maze behavior test. The number of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)-positive neurons in the hippocampus was counted by immunohistochemistry SABC method. Results Compared with the control group, the abilities of learning and memory were decreased in VaD model group (P0.05,P0.01) ,the number of BDNF-positive neurons of the hippocampus in VaD group was incereased compared with that in the control group (P0.05). Compared with VaD model group, the abilities of learning and memory were enhanced in acupuncture group (P0.05), and the number of BDNF-positive neurons in the hippocampus was increased compared with that in VaD model group and the control group (P0.05,P0.01). Conclusions Ear acupuncture improved the learning and memory abilities in the VaD model rats,possibly by increasing the expression of the BDNF in the hippocampus.
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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