Effect of electroacupuncture on learning and memory in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and its mechanism

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect and possible mechanism of electroacupuncture on learning and memory impairment in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Methods 90 SD rats used for step-down test were divided into normal control group, simple cerebral ischemia reperfusion of 7 d, 14 d, 30 d, 60 d group (I/R) and cerebral ischemia reperfusion of 7 d, 14 d, 30 d, 60 d and electroacupuncture intervention group (I/R+ EA), through simple random sampling method (10 rats in each group); 70 SD rats used for molecular biology experiments were randomly divided into normal control group, simple cerebral ischemia and reperfusion of 3 h, 6 h, 12 h group (I/R) and cerebral ischemia reperfusion of 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and electroacupuncture intervention group (I/R+ EA), n=10.Use suture method to make model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats.Take the rats' baihui acupoint and shuigou acupoint to acupuncture.The final strength was 5 mA and the duration was 30 minutes.Step down test was used to observe the restoration of learning and memory in rats.Western blot was used to detect the expression of procaspase-3, procaspase-12, PARP and ICAD in rat cerebral cortex and striatum.Immunofluorescence histochemical method was used to detect the number of GRP94 positive cells. Results The results of the platform showed that the learning and memory abilities of the rats were obviously improved after electroacupuncture treatment.Electric shock incubation period of rats in electroacupuncture of 7 d and 14 d group was (90.60±17.01) and (128.80±8.85) respectively.It was significantly higher than that of cerebral ischemia reperfusion of 7 d group(51.20±5.09) and 14 d group(105.00±10.39). The number of mistakes in single foot jump of rats in electroacupuncture of 7 d and 14 d group was (3.90±0.99) and (2.70±0.67) respectively.It was significantly lower than that of 7 d group(9.20±1.61) and 14 d group(6.10±0.99). Through SPSS13.0 statistical software one-way ANOVA, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the expression of procaspase-3, procaspase-12, PARP protein precursor and ICAD protein, upregulation increased after electroacupuncture(P<0.05). The results of immunofluorescence histochemistry showed that the number of positive cells of GRP94 protein was significantly decreased after 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after electroacupuncture intervention compared with the corresponding I/R group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture can effectively improve the learning and memory ability of rats with ischemia-reperfusion, which may be related to the apoptosis of cerebral cells after cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury by blocking the apoptosis pathway mediated by endoplasmic reticulum and inflammatory factors. Key words: Electroacupuncture; Cerebral ischemia reperfusion; Apoptosis; Learning and memory; Rat