Protective mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion on hippocampal neuron mitochondria in rats with Alzheimer's disease / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on ultrastructure and silent information regulator 1 (SIR1) in hippocampal neuron mitochondria in rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in order to explore its possible effective mechanism during the process of protecting mitochondria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group and an acupuncture group, 20 rats in each one. The AD model was established in the model group and acupuncture group with injection of Amyloid beta Protein Fragment1-14 (Abeta1-42) into the hippocampus. Acupuncture and moxibustion was applied at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Shenshu" (BL 23) in the acupuncture group, once a day, seven days as a treatment course and totally two course were required. The rest groups were all fed with normal diet, without any treatment. The transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting technique were respectively adapted to measure ultrastructure and level of STR1 in hippocampal neuron mitochondria in AD rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, the ultrastructure in hippocampal neuron mitochondria in the acupuncture group was effectively improved. The average optical density of SIR1 in hippocampus was 0.21 +/- 0.10 and the gray value was 136.82 +/- 47.42 in the model group, which were obviously lower than 0.47 +/- 0.09 and 281.44 +/- 57.98 in the normal group (both P < 0.01). However, levels of SIR1 in the acupuncture group, they were 0.32 +/- 0.11 and 199.52 +/- 58.12, which were significantly increased compared with those in the model group (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The reinforcing-kidney and regulating-Governor Vessel method of acupuncture and moxibustion for AD could improve ultrastructure of mitochondria and increase levels of SIR1 to achieve the aim of recovering injury of mitochondria and protecting function of mitochondria.</p>

Influence of electroacupuncture on p38-mitogen activated protein kinase in substantia nigra cells of rats with Parkinson disease model / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of inflammatory reaction mediated by p38-mitogen activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) signal path on prevention and treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) model rats by electroacupuncture (EA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group and an EA group, eight rats in each one. The PD model was established in the model group and EA group by subcutaneous injection of rotenone in skin-back area (2 mg/kg, dissolved in sunflower oil, 2 mg/mL in density), while the injection of sunflower oil emulsion without rotenone at the same point and quantity as the model group was applied in the sham operation group. The normal group was not given any intervention. The EA treatment (continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in intensity, 20 min) was applied at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) in the EA group, once a day for continuously 14 days. No treatment was given in the other groups. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), phosphorylated p38-MAPK, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the substantia nigra were detected with immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was typical PD ethology change in the model group. Compared with the normal group and sham operation group, the expression of TH positive neuron in the substantia nigra in the model group was significantly decreased, while the expression of phosphorylated p38-MAPK and COX-2 were significantly increased (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of TH positive neuron in the EA group was apparently increased, while the expression of phosphorylated p38-MAPK and COX-2 were significantly decreased (all P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The EA therapy could obviously reduce the expression of inflammation mediator COX-2, inhibit the phosphorylation of p38-MAPK, reduce the damage of dopaminergic neurons in the rats with PD, and this effect may be related with the impact of p38-MAPK signal path</p>

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on energy metabolism-related protein of hippocampal neuron mitochondria in Alzheimer's disease rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore action mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for Alzheimer's disease (AD) to provide evidence for prevention and treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion on AD in clinic.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty SPF-grade male Wistar rats, (200 +/- 20) g, were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-operation group, a model group and a treatment group, 20 cases in each one. The model was duplicated with injection of Abeta1-42 in rats' hippocampus. Expect the treatment group, the rest groups were treated with regular feeding after respective intervention. The treatment group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Shenshu" (BL 23), once a day, seven days as a treatment course and totally for two courses. There was one day of interval between the courses. The immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR methods were applied to test level of Abeta-binding alcohol dehydrogense (ABAD) and cytochrome oxidase IV (COX IV) in hippocampal neurons mitochondria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion could reduce effectively level of ABAD and improve activity of COX IV in hippocampal neurons mitochondria in the treatment group, which has statistical significance compared with that in the model group (P < 0.01) and no statistical significance compared with that in the normal group and sham-operation group (P > 0.05). This indicated that acupuncture and moxibustion could effectively suppress overexpression of ABAD, improve activity of COX IV and reduce leak of reactive oxygen species, which could improve metabolic disturbance of mitochondria energy to achieve the goal of prevention and treatment of AD.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevention and treatment of AD with acupuncture and moxibustion could be related with suppressing overexpression of ABAD and improving activity of COX IV in hippocampal neurons mitochondria to improve mitochondria energy metabolism.</p>

Analysis on acupoint prescription for acupoint sticking therapy of treating winter diseases in summer for preventing and curing chronic cough and asthma / 中国针灸

Based on ZhangShi YiTong written by ZHANG Lu of Qing dynasty, and the record that external application of Baijiezi (seeds of Brassica Alba) for treating asthma of cold syndrome, retrospective study is conducted to modern literature of treating winter diseases in summer with acupoint sticking therapy for preventing and treating chronic cough and asthma. Learning from thoughts and methods of evidence-based medicine, and according to subject characteristics of TCM and acupuncture, acupoints and point-selecting discipline of prescription for preventing and treating chronic cough and asthma in summer with acupoint sticking are analyzed. The results show that the top ten common acupoints used for acupoint sticking therapy of treating winter diseases in summer are Feishu (BL 13), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Xinshu (BL 15), Geshu (BL 17), Danzhong (CV 17), Shenshu (BL 23), Gaohuang (BL 43), Dazhui (GV 14), Pishu (BL 20), Tiantu (CV 22), most of which belong to the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, Conception Vessel and Governor Vessel or extra-meridian points. It refers that the core acupoints of acupoint sticking therapy are Feishu (BL 13), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Xinshu (BL 15), Geshu (BL 17), Danzhong (CV 17), and adjunct points can be selected by syndrome, disease different stage, disease or symptoms.

Effects of electroacupuncture on learning and memory ability and glial cells of the hippocampus in the rat of Alzheimer disease / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study on the mechanism of electroacupuncture for treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group and an electroacupuncture group, 12 rats in each group. The AD rat model was prepared by microinjection of amyloid-beta protein (Abeta1-40) into the Meynert nucleus. In the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was given at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Taixi" (KI 3), "Zusanli" (ST 36). The learning and memory ability was assessed by Morris water maze and the glial cell activity in the hippocampus was determined by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal group, the glial cell in the hippocampus was activated with increase of the number, and the learning and memory ability reduced in the model group (P < 0.01). After treatment, as compared with the model group, the number of the activated glial cells was reduced and the learning and memory ability was improved in the electroacupuncture group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture treatment can decrease the number of activated glial cells so as to protect the neurons, improving the learning and memory ability in the AD rat.</p>

Study on dual-directional regulation induced by acupuncture at different acupoints in the rat with motility abnormality of the stomach / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe into the bidirectional regulation of acupuncture in the rat with motility abnormality of the stomach and the nerve mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adopting electrophysiological methods, the extracellular discharge signals of neuronic action in NTS were recorded with glass microelectrodes. The effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Qihai" (CV 6) on discharges of NTS neurons and intra-gastric pressure were observed in the rat at normal physiological state, and increase or reduction of gastric motility.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Neiguan" (PC 6) could significantly promote gastric motility of the rat at normal status, increase or reduction of gastric motion, while acupuncture at "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Qihai" (CV 6) could significantly inhibit gastric motion. And acupuncture at all the above acupoints could activate discharges of NTS neurons.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The bidirectional regulation effect of an acupoint does not certainly indicate that the same point has bidirectional regulation effect on an internal organs at different pathological states, while this may show synthetic action of different points which is a good regulation towards normal states and homeostasis.</p>