[Effects and mechanisms of different frequencies of electroacupuncture for learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Baihui (GV 20)" and "Shenshu(BL 23)" for the learning and memory ability as well as glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in hippocampal tissue of rats with Alzheimer's disease(AD), so as to explore the mechanism of different frequencies of EA for the prevention and treatment of AD. METHODS: One hundred and twelve healthy Wistar male rats were divided into seven groups by random number table, namely a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group, an acupuncture group, a 2 Hz EA group, a 30 Hz EA group, and a 50 Hz EA group, 16 rats in each one. The rats in the normal group were conventionally raised in the laboratory without any treatment. 0.9% NaCl solution was injected into bilateral dentate convolution of hippocampus in rats of the sham operation group. AD model was established by ß-amyloid protein1-42 (Aß1-42) injected into bilateral dentate convolution of hippocampus in the other groups. 15 days after establishment, no treatment was applied in the model and sham operation groups, and EA with corresponding frequencies at "Baihui (GV 20)" and "Shenshu (BL 23)" was used in the three EA groups for 2 sessions, once a day and 7 times as one session. There was 1 day between the two sessions. The same acupoints were adopted in the acupuncture group, without electrical connection. The escape latency, the first spanning platform time, and the number of crossing platform were tested in the Morris water maze immediately after treatment. The expressions of GSK-3ß and GAP-43 were examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: ①Morris water maze tests showed that the escape latency and the first spanning platform time significantly increased in the model group compared with those in the normal group (both P<0.01), and the number of crossing platform decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the escape latency and the first spanning platform times decreased in the acupuncture and three EA groups (all P<0.01), and the numbers of crossing platform increased (P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture and 2 Hz, 30 Hz EA groups, the escape latency decreased in the 50 Hz EA group (P<0.01, P<0.05); the first spanning platform time reduced (all P<0.01); the number of crossing platform increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). ②The expressions of GSK-3ß and GAP-43 of the model group increased compared with those of the normal group(both P<0.01). The expressions of GSK-3ß in the acupuncture and three EA groups decreased compared with that in the model group (all P<0.01), and the expressions of GAP-43 increased (all P<0.01). The expressions of GSK-3ß decreased and GAP-43 increases in the 50 Hz EA group compared with those in the acupuncture group and 2 Hz, 30 Hz groups (all P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: EA may promote synaptic damage rehabilitation by down regulating GSK-3ß and up regulating GAP-43 to improve learning and memory ability of AD rats. The effect of 50 Hz EA is better than those of 30 Hz and 2 Hz EA and acupuncture.

Effects and mechanisms of different frequencies of electroacupuncture for learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Baihui (GV 20)" and "Shenshu(BL 23)" for the learning and memory ability as well as glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) in hippocampal tissue of rats with Alzheimer's disease(AD), so as to explore the mechanism of different frequencies of EA for the prevention and treatment of AD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twelve healthy Wistar male rats were divided into seven groups by random number table, namely a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group, an acupuncture group, a 2 Hz EA group, a 30 Hz EA group, and a 50 Hz EA group, 16 rats in each one. The rats in the normal group were conventionally raised in the laboratory without any treatment. 0.9% NaCl solution was injected into bilateral dentate convolution of hippocampus in rats of the sham operation group. AD model was established by β-amyloid protein1-42 (Aβ1-42) injected into bilateral dentate convolution of hippocampus in the other groups. 15 days after establishment, no treatment was applied in the model and sham operation groups, and EA with corresponding frequencies at "Baihui (GV 20)" and "Shenshu (BL 23)" was used in the three EA groups for 2 sessions, once a day and 7 times as one session. There was 1 day between the two sessions. The same acupoints were adopted in the acupuncture group, without electrical connection. The escape latency, the first spanning platform time, and the number of crossing platform were tested in the Morris water maze immediately after treatment. The expressions of GSK-3β and GAP-43 were examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>①Morris water maze tests showed that the escape latency and the first spanning platform time significantly increased in the model group compared with those in the normal group (both<0.01), and the number of crossing platform decreased (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the escape latency and the first spanning platform times decreased in the acupuncture and three EA groups (all<0.01), and the numbers of crossing platform increased (<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture and 2 Hz, 30 Hz EA groups, the escape latency decreased in the 50 Hz EA group (<0.01,<0.05); the first spanning platform time reduced (all<0.01); the number of crossing platform increased (<0.01,<0.05). ②The expressions of GSK-3β and GAP-43 of the model group increased compared with those of the normal group(both<0.01). The expressions of GSK-3β in the acupuncture and three EA groups decreased compared with that in the model group (all<0.01), and the expressions of GAP-43 increased (all<0.01). The expressions of GSK-3β decreased and GAP-43 increases in the 50 Hz EA group compared with those in the acupuncture group and 2 Hz, 30 Hz groups (all<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EA may promote synaptic damage rehabilitation by down regulating GSK-3β and up regulating GAP-43 to improve learning and memory ability of AD rats. The effect of 50 Hz EA is better than those of 30 Hz and 2 Hz EA and acupuncture.</p>

Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Different Frequency Electroacupuncture on Poststroke Hemi- dysesthesia / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of different frequency electroacupuncture on poststroke hemidysesthesia.Methods Sixty patients with poststroke hemidysesthesia were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, 30 cases each. Both groups received electroacupuncture at the same points. The electroacupuncture frequency was 100 Hz in the treatment group and 1 Hz in the control group. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated in the two groups at 30 days after treatment.Results The total efficacy rate and the cure and marked efficacy rate were 93.3 and 80.0, respectively, in the treatment group and 86.0% and 43.3%, respectively, in the control group. There was no significant difference in the total efficacy rate between the two groups (P<0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in the cure and marked efficacy rate between the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant pre-/post-treatment difference in the limb dysesthesia score in the two groups (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant post-treatment difference in the limb dysesthesia score between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Electroacupuncture is an effective way to treat poststroke hemidyse- sthesia. High frequency electroacupuncture is more effective than low frequency electroacupuncture.

Optimal electroacupuncture frequency for maintaining astrocyte structural integrity in cerebral ischemia.

The astrocyte is a critical regulator of neuronal survival after ischemic brain injury. Electroacupuncture may be an effective therapy for cerebral ischemia, as electroacupuncture frequency can affect the structural integrity of astrocytes. In this study, a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion established using the modified thread embolism method was treated with electroacupuncture of the bilateral Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) at 15, 30, and 100 Hz frequencies. Behavioral testing, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to explore the effect of these electroacupuncture frequencies used on maintaining the structural integrity of ischemic brain tissue. Compared with the model and 100 Hz electroacupuncture groups, the 15 and 30 Hz electroacupuncture groups displayed decreased neurological deficit scores, as evaluated by the "Longa" method, significantly increased glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, and alleviated ultrastructural damage of astrocytes at the edge of the infarct. Our experimental findings indicate that 15 and 30 Hz electroacupuncture intervention can favorably maintain the structural integrity of astrocytes and play a protective role in cerebral ischemic injury. Astrocyte structural integrity may be the mechanism underlying acupuncture production of ischemic tolerance.