Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4 -isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor associated protein glutamate receptor interacting protein (GRIP)1 and GRIP2 in hippocampal neurons of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD) model induced by Aβ25-35. Methods 40 Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, sham operation group, model group and electroacupuncture group with 10 rats in each group. The AD rat model was prepared by injecting Aβ25-35 in the hippocampus CA1 of rats, while the sham operation group was injected with equal amount of normal saline at the same location. On the second day after successful modeling, the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and bilateral Shenshu (BL23) acupoints, once a day, 6 times a week for 2 weeks. The expression of GRIP1 and GRIP2 were detected with immunohistochemistry. Results There was no difference in the expression of GRIP2 and GRIP1 proteins in hippocampus between the normal group and sham operation group (t<1.7438, P>0.05), but was lower in the model group and the electroacupuncture group than in the sham operation group (t>9.5928, P<0.001), and was higher in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (t>9.5326, P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture may increase the number of AMPA receptors on the postsynaptic membrane by increasing GRIP1 and GRIP2.

Key words: Alzheimer's disease, electroacupuncture, glutamate receptor interacting protein, rats