Effect of electroacupuncture on learning and memory in diabetic rats and the expression of connective tissue growth factor in hippocampus

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on improvement of learning and memory ability and the expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)mRNA and protein in hippocampus in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment.Methods The rat diabetes model was induced by injecting streptozotocin(20 g/L),and then the rats were randomly divided into three groups:electro-acupuncture group(EA),diabetes-mellitus-untreated group(DM)and control group(CN).After four weeks of electroacupuncture treatment,blood glucose level was determined and the effect of electroacupuncture on learning and memory was examined with the device of Morris water maze.RT-PCR was used to detect CTGF mRNA level,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect CTGF protein expression.Results Blood glucose level and the latency period in DM group were increased compared with those in EA and CN groups(P0.01).The expression of CTGF mRNA and the protein in DM was decreased compared with that in EA and CN groups(P0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can decrease blood glucose level,increase the expression of CTGF,and improve the learning and memory ability in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment.