Abstract:

Objective　To explore whether acupuncture therapy can alleviate the learning and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats induced by D-galactose (D-gal) combined with aluminum trichloride (AlCl₃) and its mechanism. Methods　It was an animal experiment. The male rats with body mass of 240-270 g were grouped into a control (A) group, a model (B) group, an acupuncture (C) group, and a drug treatment control (D) group according to the random number table method, with 5 rats in each group. After modeling and treatment, the cognitive function of rats in each group were evaluated by Y-maze, platform jumping, and Morris water maze experiments; Nissl body methylene blue special staining was applied to assess the neuronal damage; TUNEL staining was applied to detect the neuronal apoptosis in rat hippocampus; the levels of β-amyloid (β-AP) and phosphorylated tau in hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemistry. One-way analysis of variance was used for multivariate comparisons, and Tukey test for multiple comparisons. Results　Compared with group A, the rats in group B had cognitive dysfunction, neuronal damage, and a high neuronal apoptosis rate, and the levels of β-AP and phosphorylated tau were significantly higher (all P<0.05); compared with group B, the cognitive impairment of the rats in group C and group D was alleviated, the neuronal damage was improved, and the neuronal apoptosis rate was lower, and the levels of β-AP and phosphorylated tau were down-regulated (all P<0.05). Conclusion　Acupuncture therapy may reduce the concentrations of β-AP and phosphorylated tau in hippocampus to improve the cognitive impairment in AD rats.

Key words:

Alzheimer's disease, β-amyloid, Phosphorylated tau, Acupuncture therapy

摘要：

目的　探究针刺疗法是否可以减轻D-半乳糖（D-gal）联合三氯化铝（AlCl₃）诱导的阿尔兹海默症（AD）大鼠的学习和记忆缺陷及其机制。方法　本研究为动物实验。将体质量为240～270 g的雄性大鼠按照随机数字表法分为对照（A）组、模型（B）组、针刺（C）组、药物治疗对照（D）组，每组5只。造模并治疗后，通过Y-迷宫、跳台和莫里斯水迷宫实验对各组大鼠的认知功能进行评估；尼氏体亚甲蓝特殊染色评估神经元损伤情况；TUNEL染色检测大鼠海马组织中神经元凋亡情况；免疫组化检测海马组织中β-淀粉样蛋白（β-AP）和磷酸化tau水平。计量资料使用单因素方差分析进行多组比较，然后选择Tukey检验进行多重比较。结果　与A组相比，B组大鼠存在认知功能障碍，出现神经元损伤和高神经元凋亡率，且β-AP和磷酸化tau水平均明显更高（均P<0.05）；与B组相比，C组和D组大鼠认知功能障碍得到缓解，神经元损伤得到改善，神经元凋亡率更低，β-AP和磷酸化tau水平均下调（均P<0.05）。结论　针刺疗法可能通过降低海马组织中β-AP和磷酸化tau水平来改善AD大鼠的认知功能障碍。

关键词:

阿尔兹海默症, β-淀粉样蛋白, 磷酸化tau, 针刺疗法