Effect Of Moxibustion On Alzheimer Disease Model Rats’ Learning And Memory, GSK-3β And Phosphorylated Tau Protein

Objective To explore moxibustion on its possible role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease(AD), particularly early, and to provide new ideas for AD and theory by establishing the AD in rat model of observational learning and memory in rats, Hippocampus GSK-3β activity and expression of phosphorylated Tau protein loci.Methods Using Morris water maze out of some too stupid or particularly smart rats, identified 48 2-month-old male SD rats, and then randomly divided them into pseudo surgery group, model, moxibustion group, medical( donepezil hydrochloride) control group,12 in each group. The sham group are given citric acid/sodium citrate buffer by lateral ventricle injection, while the three other groups are injected with the same volume of STZ into the lateral ventricle to construct AD model. 8th day after surgery, the moxibustion group, are moxibustioned on acupoints of "guanyuan" “changqiang”“mingmen”“baihui”,while control group was given a gavage of donepezil Hydrochloride of 0.45 mg/kg as the same course of treatment. 40 th day after surgery, Morris Water Maze was used to test the ability of learning and memory of rats. 45 th day after surgery, decapitation in rat brain to detect the activity of hippocampus GSK-3β and Tau protein phosphorylation sites(Ser396/Thr231) content and expression, ATP enzyme activity in the frontal lobe changes and observe the morphological changes of rat hippocampal CA1 region under light microscope.Results 1. Morris water maze test results: learning and memory ability of the model comparing with Sham-operated rats had obvious damage. 2. Moxibustion and medicine Donepezil hydrochloride are nearly the same protection on learning and memory abilities of rats after one-month treatment. 3. ELISA GSK-3β activity in hippocampus of rats showed: the model group of GSK-3β activity was significantly higher in rats’ hippocampus than the Sham-operated, and both were inhibited on the activity of GSK-3β treatment; and the Donepezil hydrochloride lower than the moxibustion group’s. 4. Pathological tissue slices observed in brain tissue of rats hippocampus neurons with different degrees of damage, even hippocampal head shrink, moxibustion and medicine Donepezil hydrochloride on neuronal damage in hippocampus and its obvious protective function. 5. Moxibusion can significantly increase AD model rats with Na+K+-ATPase, Ca+Mg2+-ATPase and total ATPase activity in the frontal lobe(P<0.01).Conclusions 1. Trace STZ intracerebroventricular injection can make the rat’s spatial memory capacity was significantly damaged, leading to missing the spatial memory of rats on platform in the test. Resulting in impairment of learning and memory in rats at the same time can also cause over-expression of phosphorylated Tau protein pathology characteristics, successfully established animal models of AD. 2. GSK-3β activity in the hippocampus in the model rat, Tau protein phosphorylation sites increased expression of Ser396, Thr231, illustration after STZ injection may interfere with I/IR system to activate GSK-3β, thereby regulating hippocampal neuron tangles(neurofibrillary tangles, NFT) is closely related to the phosphorylation of Tau protein loci Ser396, Thr231 excessive phosphorylation, increased AD pathology; Moxibustion must significantly improve learning and memory abilities in rats, inhibitory the activity of GSK-3β, reduced hippocampal neuronal expression of phosphorylated Tau protein, Ser396, Thr231 and thereby reducing the excessive production of phosphorylated Tau protein and its toxic effects, protective microtubule structures, play a role in controlling AD, its therapeutic Donepezil hydrochloride and Western medicine does not differ significantly. 3. Basic Chinese traditional medical pathogenesis of AD for kidney essence deficiency and marrow nourishment failure. The treatment of moxibustion on acupoints-“Guanyuan”, “Changqiang”, “Mingmen” “Baihui”-which benefit on kidney, brain through spinal cord, can achieve better results. 4. This study also found that moxibustion may significantly enhance the AD model rat frontal lobe of ATP energy, could well improve the frontal lobe of the energy metabolism.