《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2019, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (2): 156-161.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2019.02.006

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Blood-brain Barrier in SAMP8 Mice

YANG Zhi-xue1, TANG Cheng-lin1, LI Xiao-hong2, ZHU Zheng-wei1, HUANG Si-qin1, DAI Ni1, WU Meng-jia1, QIU Li1, AN Hui-yu1   

  1. 1. College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
    2. Department of Rehabilitation, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
  • Received:2018-11-27 Revised:2018-12-29 Published:2019-02-25 Online:2019-04-01
  • Contact: TANG Cheng-lin, LI Xiao-hong. E-mail: cytcl996@163.com (TANG Cheng-lin); 25089598@qq.com (LI Xiao-hong)
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth) (No. 81603689), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81273870) and Chongqing Health and Family Planning Committee/Chongqing Science and Technology Committee Key Research Project for Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. ZY201801007)

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on blood-brain barrier to promote intake of drugs into brain of SAMP8 mice. Methods The male SAMP8 mice (30-week-old) were randomly divided into model group (n = 7), drug group (n = 7), acupuncture group (n = 7) and combined group (n = 7). Other SAMR1 mice were as control group (n = 7). The acupuncture group and the combined group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Yintang (EX-HN3), the drug group and the combined group accepted Donepezil, for four weeks. They were observed hippocampus tight junction (TJ) under transmission electron microscope. The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in hippocampus were detected with immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of ZO-1, Claudin-5 and Occludin was detected with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results TJ and basement membrane in the control group, the acupuncture group and the combined group were better than those in the model group and the drug group. AChE was the most in the combined group, and then the drug group and the control group, the acupuncture group and the model group (P < 0.001). The expression of mRNA of ZO-1, Claudin-5 and Occludin was more in the acupuncture group and the combined group than in the drug group (P < 0.01). Conclusion Electroacupuncture could ameliorate blood-brain barrier disruption and promote drug to enter the brain in SAMP8 mice, which may relate to the adjustion of ZO-1, Claudin-5 and Occludin.

Key words: Alzheimer's disease, electroacupuncture, blood-brain barrier, mice

CLC Number: