Electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui Improves Learning Memory through ARC/GluR2/NMDAR2B Modulation of Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in MCAO/R Rats
Objective:To explore the mechanism of action of electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui points on the improvement of learning memory function in middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)rats.Methods:The MCAO/R rat model was prepared by the thread bolus method.A total of 24 male SD rats were ran-domly divided into model group(n=6),electroacupuncture group(n=6),non-acupuncture point group(n=6)and sham operation group(n=6).The rats in the electroacupuncture group were selected from the Baihui and Shenting points,and the rats in the non-acupuncture group were selected from the bilateral non-meridian and non-acupunc-ture points under the locus coeruleus,and electroacupuncture was performed for a total of 7 days.Zea-Longa scor-ing method was used to score the neurological deficits of the rats in the various groups,to assess the learning and memory ability of the rats by new object recognition,to scan the infarct area of the rats by the small-animal mag-netic resonance T2WI series,to observe the pathologic patterns of the hippocampus on the ischemic side by HE staining,and to compare the hippocampus in the various groups by wave spectra(1HMRS).N-acetylaspartate(NAA),creatine(Cr)and glutamate(Glu)metabolite contents in the area,and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of ARC/GluR2/NMDAR2B in the hippocampus on the ischemic side.Results:After 7 days of inter-vention,compared with the model and non-acupuncture groups,the neurological deficit scores of rats in the elec-troacupuncture group were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),and the new object recognition indices of rats in the electroacupuncture group were elevated compared with those of the model and non-acupuncture groups(P＜0.05).Magnetic resonance T2WI showed that the infarct area in the electroacupuncture group was significantly reduced compared with the model and non-cavity groups(P＜0.05).Wave spectra showed that the NAA/Cr ratio in the hip-pocampal area of the electroacupuncture group was significantly higher compared with that of the model and non-cavity groups(P＜0.001),and GLU/Cr was lower(P＜0.01).Western blotting results showed that the content of NMDAR2B in the hippocampus on the ischemic side of the rats in the electroacupuncture group was significantly lower than those in the model and non-acupuncture groups(P＜0.01),and the content of ARC and GluR2 was higher than those in the model and non-acupuncture groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Electroacupuncture at Shent-ing and Baihui points can improve neurological deficits,improve learning and memory ability,reduce the infarct ar-ea on the ischemic side,improve pathological morphology,increase neuronal excitability and decrease the accumu-lation of glutamate in the post-membrane area in MCAO/R rats.The mechanism may be related to the promotion of ARC and GluR2 in the hippocampus of MCAO/R rats,inhibition of the expression of NMDAR2B,which may im-prove synaptic plasticity damage in the hippocampus after stroke.
万方数据
维普
