Effects of straight pushing the Du meridian on the oxytocin neurons in the PVN region and the cognitive function of autism spectrum disorder model rats
Objective To observe the effects of straight pushing the Du meridian(SPDM)on the activity of oxytocin(OXI)neurons in the paraventricular nucleus(PVN)region and the cognitive function of autism spectrum disorder(ASD)model rats,and to explore the effects and potential mechanism of SPDM on ASD.Methods The ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sodium valproate.Seven SD rats at 12.5 days of pregnancy were randomly selected and sodium valproate was then injected into the abdominal cavity,while three other rats were injected with physiological saline into the abdominal cavity.On the 21st day after birth,female young rats were excluded and the remaining male young rats were divided into blank group,model group,SPDM group,and drug injection group,with five rats in each group.The blank group and model group were given intraperitoneal injection of the same dose of physiological saline;the SPDM group was intervened by SPDM for 20 minutes per time,twice a day,and the same dose of physiological saline was injected into the abdominal cavity;the drug injection group received intraperitoneal injection of OXT at a daily dose of 0.1 mg/kg,and the above interventions were continuous for 14 d.On the 35th day,elevated cross maze and Morris water maze experiments were conducted to assess the rats'anxiety and cognitive abilities;immunofluorescence staining was used to label OXT and c-Fos proteins in the PVN region,as well as OXT and oxytocin receptor(OXTR)in the hippocampus;Western blot was used to check the expression levels of OXTR protein in the hippocampus;ELISA method was used to determine the content of OXT in the hippocampus and hypothalamus of young rats.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group had shorter open arm activity time and fewer open arm entry times(P＜0.01);increased escape latency(P＜0.05)and decreased distance of the platform's quadrant(P＜0.01);reduced positive expressions of OXT neurons and c-Fos in the PVN region,the positive expressions of OXT and OXTR binding in the hippocampus,and the OXTR protein expressions in the hippocampus(P＜0.01);and the lower OXT content in the hypothalamus and hippocampus regions(P＜0.01).Compared with those of model group,the open arm range of activity increased and the number of open arm entries increased in SPDM group and drug injection group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),while the escape latency shortened and the range of activity in the quadrant where the platform was located increased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);the positive expressions of OXT neurons and c-Fos in the PVN region,the positive expressions of OXT and OXTR binding in the hippocampus,and the expressions of OXTR in the hippocampus all increased(P＜0.01);the OXT content in the hypothalamus and hippocampus increased(P＜0.01).Conclusion SPDM can improve cognitive function of ASD model rats,and its mechanism may be related to the activation of OXT neurons in the PVN region,which in turn increases OXT levels and thus strengthens their binding with hippocampal OXTR.
autism spectrum disorderTuinathe Du meridiancognitive functionoxytocin neuron
万方数据
维普
