Influence of Pre-stimulation with acupuncture and moxibustion on Neuronal Apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2,NF-κB in Alzheimer's disease rats

Objective To explore the mechanism of acupuncture on Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention and treatment by observing the influences of pre-acupuncture stimulation on neuronal apoptosis-related protein Bcl-2,NF-κB in AD rat models.Methods For the treatment group,rats were treated with electro-acupuncture,moxibustion and electro-acupuncture plus moxibustion at Baihui (DU 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) points for eight weeks,after which AD rat model was established via bilateral injection of Aβ1-40 in hippocampus.Rat praxiology was evaluated through the Morris watermaze test.Immunohistochemistry was applied for detecting rat hippocampus Bcl-2,NF-κB expression.Results The Morris water maze test showed obvious impairment in rat learning and memorizing ability,with significant difference observed in comparison with the normal group and sham operation group (P 0.01).Immunohistochemistry results showed that Aβ1-40 increased hippocampus NF-κB P65 protein expression significantly,with reduced Bcl-2 protein expression correspondently (P 0.01).NF-κB P65 protein expression in each pre-acupuncture stimulation groups was significantly reduced,Bcl-2 protein expression was in a corresponding increase (P 0.01).Each treatment groups test results showed the best effect existed in the pre-acupuncture group (P 0.05),pre-electro-acupuncture group and the pre-moxibustion group were of no significant difference (P 0.05).Conclusions Acupuncture pre-stimulation slows down AD progression by protecting neuronal cells and maintaining normal ability of learning and memorizing via inhibiting NF-κB expression and promoting expression of Bcl-2.