Open AccessHigh-frequency electroacupuncture evidently reinforces hippocampal synaptic transmission in Alzheimer′s disease rats
Author(s) -
Wei Li,
Li-Hong Kong,
Hui Wang,
Feng Shen,
Yawen Wang,
Hua Zhou,
Guangling Sun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
neural regeneration research/neural regeneration research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.93
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1876-7958
pISSN - 1673-5374
DOI - 10.4103/1673-5374.182708
Subject(s) - electroacupuncture , long term potentiation , hippocampal formation , neuroscience , hippocampus , dentate gyrus , medicine , alzheimer's disease , neurotransmission , disease , psychology , acupuncture , pathology , receptor , alternative medicine
The frequency range of electroacupuncture in treatment of Alzheimer's disease in rats is commonly 2-5 Hz (low frequency) and 50-100 Hz (high frequency). We established a rat model of Alzheimer's disease by injecting β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42) into the bilateral hippocampal dentate gyrus to verify which frequency may be better suited in treatment. Electroacupuncture at 2 Hz or 50 Hz was used to stimulate Baihui (DU20) and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints. The water maze test and electrophysiological studies demonstrated that spatial memory ability was apparently improved, and the ranges of long-term potentiation and long-term depression were increased in Alzheimer's disease rats after electroacupuncture treatment. Moreover, the effects of electroacupuncture at 50 Hz were better than that at 2 Hz. These findings suggest that high-frequency electroacupuncture may enhance hippocampal synaptic transmission and potentially improve memory disorders in Alzheimer's disease rats.