Potentiation of ischemia-related behavioral alterations by electro-acupuncture in gerbils.
Gerbils subjected to global ischemia or sham-ischemia received electro-acupuncture (EA) or sham EA at points 26 Du (Renzhong) and 8 Du (Junsuo). All animals were then tested for motor activity in an open field, and for spontaneous alternation in a T maze. Results show that EA alone did not affect any behavioral parameter. Ischemia alone increased motor activity without significantly interfering with spontaneous alternation. EA in ischemic gerbils potentiated the increase of motor activity and elicited a decrease in spontaneous alternation. Thus, our data show an interaction between global ischemia and EA applied at specific acupoints which, however, consists of a potentiation rather than an alleviation of the behavioral alterations consecutive to the ischemic insult.
Restivo
Leonardo
L
IRCCS S. Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy. l.restivo@hsantalucia.it
Middei
Silvia
S
Mingfu
Luo
L
Reggio
Rosaria
R
Passino
Enrica
E
Formisano
Rita
R
Ammassari-Teule
Martine
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005849:Gerbillinae; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D009043:Motor Activity; D013037:Spatial Behavior