title: [Effect of acupuncture on the p53 protein expression of mice with Alzheimer's disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of acupuncture method for benefiting qi, regulating blood, supplementing the root, and cultivating the essence (BQRBSRCE) on the p53 protein expression of mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  SAMP8 mice were divided into the control group, the acupuncture group, and the non-acupoint group. The homologous SAMR1 control group was set up. Mice in the acupuncture group used acupuncture method for BQRBSRCE by needling at Tanzhong (RN17), Zhongwan (RN12), Qihai (RN6), and bilateral Xuehai (SP10), and bilateral Zusanli (ST36).Two fixed non-acupoints from bilateral ribs were needled in the non-acupoint group. The p53 protein expression in the cortex and hippocampus of mice was determined using Western blot. The pathological changes of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region, the temporal lobe, and the occipital lobe were observed using HE staining. The expression of cortical p53-positive cells was detected by immunohistochemical assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The p53 protein was highly expressed in the cortex of SAMP8, which was significantly down-regulated after acupuncture, showing statistical difference when compared with the SAMP8 control group (P < 0.05), but with no statistical difference when compared with the SAMR1 control group (P > 0.05). Needling at non-acupoints had no obvious effect on the p53 protein expression. There was no statistical difference in the p53 protein expression of the hippocampus (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture method for BQRBSRCE could down-regulate the p53 protein expression in the brain of mice, improve the pathological state of brain cells, thus enhancing learning and memory capabilities of AD mice, improving their cognitive functions, with specificity of acupoints.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Si-Si
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture, First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Zhu
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53