电针对血管性痴呆模型大鼠学习记忆能力和脑组织细胞凋亡的影响

目的 :观察电针对实验性血管性疾呆 (VD)大鼠学习记忆能力和脑组织细胞凋亡的影响。方法 :采用 4 血管阻断模型 ,用Morris水迷宫测定大鼠学习记忆能力 ,并用Tunel法检测鼠脑皮质和海马细胞凋亡情况。结果 :模型大鼠表现明显的学习记忆障碍 ,在定位航行试验中 ,与假手术组相比 ,潜伏期显著延长 ;在空间探索试验中 ,在原平台象限跨越平台次数与其余三个象限无显著差异 ;其顶叶皮层及海马有大量的凋亡细胞出现。而电针能显著缩短定位航行试验的潜伏期 ;在空间探索试验中 ,在原平台象限跨越平台次数显著多于其余三个象限 ,与假手术组无显著差异 ;其顶叶皮层及海马CA1区的凋亡细胞数显著减少 ,受损程度明显轻于模型组。结论 :电针能改善VD大鼠学习记忆能力 ,有拮抗脑组织细胞凋亡的作用

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Learning and Memory and Apoptosis of Hippocampal Neurons in Vascular Dementia Rats

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on learning and memory and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in experi ment al Vascular Dementia (VD) rats. Methods: A total of 50 SD rats were r andomly divided into sham-operation group ( n =10), model group ( n =13), E A group ( n =14) and medication group ( n =13). VD model was established by using 4-vessel-occlusion method. EA (2 mA, 150 Hz) was delivered to "Baihui " (GV 20) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) for 20 min through the inserted acupuncture need les, once daily and continuously for 15 days. In medication group, Nimodipine (1 2 mg/kg) was fed to the rats once daily, 15 days altogether. Learning and memory was determined by water Morris method. Apoptosis of the brain tissues was detected by Tunel method. Results: Place navig ation test showed that compared with sham-operation group, the escape latency of rats in m o del group increased considerably ( P <0.01); while in comparison with model g roup, the increased escape latency values of rats in EA and medication groups were sho rtened significantly ( P <0.01). No significant differences were found between EA and sham-operation, and between medication and sham-operation groups ( P >0. 05). Sp atial probe test displayed that the number of rats passing through the original platform in model group was obviously smaller than that of rats in the rest 3 groups ( P <0.01), while no significant differences between EA group or medic atio n group and sham-operation group ( P >0.05). It showed that administration of EA a nd Nimodipine could improve the learning and memory of VD rats. The apop totic neurons of EA and medication groups were significantly fewer than those of model group in both the cerebral cortex and CA1 area of hippocampus, and no sig nificant difference was found between EA and medication groups, suggesting that both EA and medication could suppress ischemia-reperfusion induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture can improve the learning and memory of VD rats and inhibit cerebral apoptosis after cerebral ischemia-reper fusion.