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电针改善低雌激素性认知功能障碍大鼠的学习记忆

唐曦, 唐成林^*, 谢洪武, 宋云娥

重庆医科大学中医药学院，重庆 400016

摘要

本文旨在研究电针对低雌激素性认知功能障碍大鼠的学习记忆能力的作用及可能机制。采用卵巢切除大鼠模型，造成大鼠低雌激素性记忆障碍，去势2周后进行电针刺激，连续治疗3个月。Morris水迷宫测试空间学习记忆能力，酶联免疫吸附分析(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA)检测血清雌二醇(estradiol, E2)浓度，实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测海马乙酰胆碱转移酶(choline acetyltransferase, ChAT) mRNA的相对表达量。结果显示，与假手术组比较，卵巢切除模型组大鼠逃避潜伏期时间明显延长，跨越平台次数明显减少，血清E2浓度和海马ChAT mRNA表达显著降低(P < 0.01)；与模型组比较，给予电针治疗后，大鼠逃避潜伏期缩短，跨越平台次数增加，血清E2浓度和海马ChAT mRNA表达均显著升高(P < 0.01)。以上结果提示，电针能够提高去卵巢大鼠学习记忆能力，其机制可能与升高体内雌激素水平从而上调海马ChAT基因的表达有关。

关键词： 电针; 去卵巢; 认知; 乙酰胆碱转移酶

分类号：R245

[Electroacupuncture improves learning-memory of rats with low estrogen-induced cognitive impairment.] [Article in Chinese]

TANG Xi, TANG Cheng-Lin^*, XIE Hong-Wu, Song Yun-E

Department of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on learning-memory of rats with low estrogen-induced cognitive impairment and the possible mechanism. The rat model was established by ovariectomy, which resulted in low estrogen-induced cognitive impairment. EA was applied continuously for 3 months 2 weeks after ovariectomy. Morris water maze was used to test the ability of spatial learning and memory. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR were used to detect the concentration of serum estradiol (E2) and relative expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA in hippocampus, respectively. The result showed that, compared with the sham group, the ovariectomy model group exhibited longer escape latency, reduced number of platform-crossing, lower concentration of serum E2, and decreased expression of ChAT mRNA in hippocampus. EA shortened the escape latency and increased the number of platform-crossing in the ovariectomy model group. Moreover, the concentration of serum E2 and the hippocampal expression of ChAT mRNA in the ovariectomy model group were significantly elevated by EA treatment. These results suggest EA is capable of improving learning and memory in ovariectomized rats, and the mechanism involves the up-regulation of the expression of ChAT mRNA in hippocampus induced by the increase of the serum concentration of estrogen.

Key words: Electroacupuncture; ovariectomized; cognition; choline acetyl-transferase

收稿日期：2012-05-10　　录用日期：2012-07-25

通讯作者：唐成林　　E-mail: cytcl996@163.com

引用本文：

唐曦, 唐成林, 谢洪武, 宋云娥. 电针改善低雌激素性认知功能障碍大鼠的学习记忆[J]. 生理学报 2013; 65 (1): 26-32.

TANG Xi, TANG Cheng-Lin, XIE Hong-Wu, Song Yun-E. [Electroacupuncture improves learning-memory of rats with low estrogen-induced cognitive impairment.] [Article in Chinese]. Acta Physiol Sin 2013; 65 (1): 26-32 (in Chinese with English abstract).