title: Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli and Baihui acupoints ameliorates type-2 diabetes-induced reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.
abstract: In the current study, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can inhibit pathological reductions in neurogenesis. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats at 7 weeks of age were anesthetized with zoletil, and sham-acupuncture or EA at the Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints was administered once a day for 5 weeks. In the ZDF group that received sham-EA (ZDF-Sham group), the blood glucose level was significantly increased together with age as compared to the control littermates [Zucker lean control (ZLC) rat]. In contrast, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly decreased in the ZDF-Sham group compared to the ZLC group. Although EA treatment decreased blood glucose levels, this was not statistically significant when compared to blood glucose levels changes in the ZDF-Sham group. However, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly increased with EA in ZDF rats as compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in hippocampal homogenates of ZDF-Sham group compared to those in the ZLC group. The EA treatment significantly increased the BDNF levels compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group, and BDNF levels in this group were similar to those in the ZLC group. These results suggest that EA at ST36 and GV20 can ameliorate the reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus induced by type-2 diabetes without significantly reducing blood glucose levels with increasing BDNF levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Dae Young
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Wooseok
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Jung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sun Shin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Hwa Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: In Koo
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Je Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Yeo Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018891:Dentate Gyrus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor