The Effect Of "Changqiang" Electroacupuncture On The Learning And Memory Function And The Apoptosis Of Hippocampus’ CA1Region Of Rat Which Suffers From Vascular Dementia

AIM:To study the effect of "ChangQiang" electro acupuncture on the learning and memory function of rat which suffers from vascular dementia as well as on the apoptosis of hippocampus’CA1region.Methodology:(1)First,select SPF65SD male rats and among them, select60rats with good learning ability and memory through the Morris Water Maze Test. Then divide these60rats into three groups at random:9rats for blank control group (Group A),9of them to sham-operated group (Group B) and42for surgical control group. Moreover, due to the success of the permanent occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries(2-VO) mode, there remain33rats from the surgical control group besides9rats died from the anesthesia and surgrey.27rats are selected from the surgical control group through taking the Water Maze Test and then again they are divided at random into three groups:9for model group (Group C),9for "ChangQiang" electroacupuncture treatment group (Group D) and rest9for the non-acupoint electroacupuncture control group (Group E). Specifically, bipolar couplet needles pierce point0.3inches and whose needle handles are respectively connected to the electric poles (continuous wave, frequency of2Hz, intensity of2mA) of the HANS electric acupuncture apparatus are used for group D and E once a day and these needles will stay in the rats for20minutes,10days for a course of treatment. Acupunctures are given2days after completion of the initial course and there will be continuous acupunctures for three courses.(2)After the treatment, take the Water Maze Test for each group and do anesthesia, perfusion, meningioma, embedding and sectioning for the brain, then take TUNEL test.(3) Analyse the data and its correlation by means of one-way analysis of variance.Results:(1) Water Maze Test:①the average escape latencies after treatments are:Group A (7.95±1.86)、Group B (8.27±2.34)、Group C (51.95±21.76)、Group D (25.37±10.10)、 Group E(49.08±21.77). Compare with Group C, the latency of Group A and C are apparently shorter (P<0.05).②the times of traversing the platform after treatments are:Group A (8.22±2.82)、Group B (8.11±2.76)、Group C (2.67±1.41)、Group D (5.43±2.51)、Group E (2.88±1.81). Among them, the times of the Group C is apparently less than that of Group A and D (P<0.05).(2)TUNEL test for hippocampus’CA1region:the apoptosis of hippocampus’CA1region of each group are:Group A (2.17±1.85)、Group B (2.33±2.17)、 Group C (61.28±21.69、Group D(25.00±8.97)、Group E(54.44±22.44).Compare with Group C, the apoptosis of Group A and D are obviously less(P<0.05).(3) the correlation analysis between the Water Maze data of the group taking the "Changqiang" electroacupuncture treatment and apoptosis of hippocampus’CA1region:①a negative correlation between apoptosis and latency is found (r=0.851,P<0.05).a negative correlation between apoptosis and the times of traversing is found (r=-0.861, P<0.05).Conclusion:(1)"ChangQiang" electroacupuncture may restrain the apoptosis of hippocampus’CA1region of VD rats.(2)"ChangQiang" electroacupuncture may improve the learning and memorizing ability of VD rats.(3) the improvement of learning and memorizing ability by "ChangQiang" electroacupuncture is relevant to its restraining apoptosis of hippocampus’CA1region of VD rats.