Effects of Electroacupuncture on Ability of Learning and Memory and Expression of Hippocampal Neuronal NMDA Receptor in SAMP8 Mice

LUO Yongyang, JIANG Yiyan, YANG Wendan, ZHAO Encong, LI Feifei, XU Qian, QIAN Changhui, DONG Weiguo

LUO Yongyang1, JIANG Yiyan2, YANG Wendan1, ZHAO Encong1, LI Feifei1, XU Qian2,

QIAN Changhui2, DONG Weiguo2

1. College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China; 2. College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China

Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints of Baihui (GV20), Dazhui

(GV14) and Shenshu (BL23) on cognitive function and neurons NMDA receptors NR2A and NR2B in the hippocampus in SAMP8 mice; To explore the mechanism of EA in the treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods Totally 24 six-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into model group (n=12) and EA group

(n=12), and the same age SAMR1 mice were as control group (n=12). The EA group accepted EA at Baihui, Dazhui and Shenshu for 30 days. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of mice. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to observe the expressions of NR2A and NR2B in hippocampal neurons. Results Compared with the control group, escape latency increased (P<0.01), the time staying in the quadrant of the platform decreased (P<0.01), as well as the number passing the original platform (P<0.01), and the relative expression of NR2A increased (P<0.01) and the relative expression of NR2B (P<0.01) in hippocampus decreased in the model group. Compared with the model group, escape latency decreased (P<0.05), the time staying

in the quadrant of the platform increased (P<0.01), as well as the number passing the original platform (P<0.05), and the relative expression of NR2A decreased (P<0.05) and the relative expression of NR2B increased (P<0.01) in hippocampus in EA group. Conclusion EA can improve the learning and memory ability of SAMP8 mice, and its mechanism may be that the EA can inhibit the expression of neurons NMDA receptor NR2A and increase the expression of NR2B in hippocampus.

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; electroacupuncture; NMDA receptor; SAMP8 mice