Mechanism of Action of Electroacupuncture in Improving Learning and Memory and Protecting Injured Hippocampal Neuron in Alzheimer's Disease Rats

Objective To investigate the mechanism of action of electroacupuncture in improving learning and memory and protecting injured hippocampal neuron in Alzheimer's disease(AD) rats.Method The rats were randomized into normal,sham operation,model and electroacupuncture groups.Spatial learning and memory were assessed using a Morris water maze.Change of learning and memory abilities was detected by Morris water maze.Apoptosis of hippocampal neurons was examined by hoechest 33342 staining.Bcl-2 and Bax levels were measured by Western blot analysis.The number and optical density value of Caspase-3-positive neurons were determined by Immunohistochemical staining.Result Electroacupuncture can significantly improve AD rat learning and memory function,and reduce the number of apoptotic cells in the hippocampal CA1 region,upregulate the expression of Bcl-2 and downregulate the expressions of Bax and apoptosis execution protein Caspase-3.Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve AD rat learning and memory function through regulating the balance ratio between Bax and Bcl-2,reducing Caspase-3 expression and counteracting-amyloid protein-induced neuronal apoptosis.