The Effect Of Electroacupuncture At Baihui Acupoints On Metabolites In Hippocampus And Spatial Learning And Memory Of APP/PS1 Double-transgenic Mice

Objective:In this study we used the magnetic resonance spectroscopy to observe the varieties of N-Acetylaspartate(NAA),Glutamate(Glu),mI(myoinositol)in hippocampus(HPC)of APP/PS1 double-transgenic mices,in order to explore the mechanism that electroacupuncture(EA)at Baihui acupoint ameliorates the spatial learning and memory ability.Methods:36 APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice were randomly divided into the Model group(n=12),the Electroacupuncture group(EA group)(n=12)and the No-Acupoint group(NA group)(n=12)after identified from 60 offspring mice,12 littermates wild-type mice were in Control group.EA was performed 30 min daily for 4 weeks.Morris water maze and Step-down test were used to evaluate spatial learning and memory ability.Magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)was used to observe the nerve cell metabolism NAA,Glu,mI of hippocampus.Nissl's staining was employed to observe the varieties of neuronal cells in hippocampus,and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of BDNF and TrkB.Results:(1)Before the electroacupuncture treatment,the EA group had no difference on the escape latency and times of crossing the platform compared with the Model group(P>0.05).After treatment,the EA group spent less time to seek the hidden platform(P<0.05),as well as the increased frequency of crossing the location of the platform(P<0.05).Before the treatment,step-down test showed no significant difference in error times and latency in the EA group compared with model group(P>0.05);but after the treatment the EA group demonstrated a reduction of error times(P<0.01)and increased latency compared with the model group(P<0.01).(2)Before the electroacupuncture,the concentration of NAA,Glu,mI in the EA group had no significant difference with the model group(P>0.05),after EA treatment,the concentration of NAA and Glu in the EA group was improved in hippocampus(P<0.05),however,the difference of mI is not significant compared with the model group(P>0.05).(3)Nissl's staining result implied that the electroacupuncture treatment at DU20 decreased the injury of the neurons in morphology and structure and increased the quantity of normal neurons in the EA group compared with the model group(P<0.01).(4)As a result of western blotting,EA at DU20 increased the level of BDNF,TrkB,and the phosphorylation of TrkB in hippocampus(P<0.01).Conclusion:EA at DU20 acupoints could protect neurons and ameliorate spatial learning and memory ability in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice by improving the concentration of NAA and Glu in hippocampus and up-regulating the expression of BDNF and TrkB of the region.