Title: Effect of Electroacupuncture on Learning and Memory and Apoptosis of Hippocampal Neurons in Vascular Dementia Rats
Abstract: Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on learning and memory and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in experi ment al Vascular Dementia (VD) rats. Methods: A total of 50 SD rats were r andomly divided into sham-operation group ( n =10), model group ( n =13), E A group ( n =14) and medication group ( n =13). VD model was established by using 4-vessel-occlusion method. EA (2 mA, 150 Hz) was delivered to Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) for 20 min through the inserted acupuncture need les, once daily and continuously for 15 days. In medication group, Nimodipine (1 2 mg/kg) was fed to the rats once daily, 15 days altogether. Learning and memory was determined by water Morris method. Apoptosis of the brain tissues was detected by Tunel method. Results: Place navig ation test showed that compared with sham-operation group, the escape latency of rats in m o del group increased considerably ( P 0.01); while in comparison with model g roup, the increased escape latency values of rats in EA and medication groups were sho rtened significantly ( P 0.01). No significant differences were found between EA and sham-operation, and between medication and sham-operation groups ( P 0. 05). Sp atial probe test displayed that the number of rats passing through the original platform in model group was obviously smaller than that of rats in the rest 3 groups ( P 0.01), while no significant differences between EA group or medic atio n group and sham-operation group ( P 0.05). It showed that administration of EA a nd Nimodipine could improve the learning and memory of VD rats. The apop totic neurons of EA and medication groups were significantly fewer than those of model group in both the cerebral cortex and CA1 area of hippocampus, and no sig nificant difference was found between EA and medication groups, suggesting that both EA and medication could suppress ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture can improve the learning and memory of VD rats and inhibit cerebral apoptosis after cerebral ischemia-reper fusion.
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 2
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot