电针预处理对血管性痴呆大鼠神经细胞谷氨酸-NMDA受体信号转导通路的影响

目的:观察电针预处理对血管性痴呆(vascular dementia,VD)大鼠防治作用的可能机制。方法:将SD大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、模型组、电针预处理组。采用改良线栓法制备VD模型。电针预处理"百会"肾俞"后三里"穴,连续波,频率为100次/min,强度1 mA,每日1次,连续进行10 d。用比色法测定各组大鼠海马谷氨酸(Glu)含量的变化,原位杂交法测定海马N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体1(NMDAR 1)mRNA表达的变化。结果:模型组海马Glu含量、NMDAR 1 mRNA表达明显高于假手术组(P<0.01),电针预处理组海马Glu含量、NMDAR 1 mRNA表达明显低于模型组(P<0.05)。结论:电针预处理可降低VD鼠海马组织Glu含量,下调海马NMDAR 1的表达,因而有可能通过减轻Glu-NMDAR信号路径诱导的细胞凋亡发生,保护脑细胞。

Effect of Electroacupuncture Pretreatment on Glutamate-NMDAR Signal Pathway in Hippocampal Neurons of Vascular Dementia Rats

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on hippocampal glutamate (Glu) content and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)1 mRNA expression in rats with vascular dementia (VD) so as to explore its underlying mechanism in improving VD. METHODS: A total of 72 SD rats were randomized into control (n=16), sham-operation (n=16), model (n=20) and EA pretreatment (n=20) groups. VD model was established by modified middle cerebral artery occlusion. EA (1 mA, 1.7 Hz) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), once daily for 10 days. Glu content of right hippocampus tissue was detected with chromatometry. NMDAR 1 mRNA expression of hippocampus was detected by in situ hybridization histochemistry. RESULTS: In comparison with sham operation group, Glu content and NMDAR 1 mRNA expression of hippocampus in model group increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with model group, Glu content and NMDAR 1 mRNA expression of hippocampus in EA pretreatment group decreased significantly (P<0.01, 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA pretreatment can suppress the increase of Glu content, down-regulate NMDAR 1 mRNA expression in VD rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving VD via reducing apoptosis and protecting cerebral neurons.