title: [Effects of scalp-acupuncture on astrocyte apoptosis in hippocampal CA 1 region in rats with vascular dementia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of scalp-acupuncture intervention on the expression of Bcl-2 of astrocytes in the hippocampus in vascular dementia (VD) rats, so as to reveal its underlying mechanism in improving VD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, sham-operation, VD model, and scalp-acupuncture groups (n=10 in each group). The VD model was established by using modified Pulsinelli 4-vessel-occlusion method. Scalp-acupuncture was applied to bilateral "Daozang Shangjiao" and bilateral "Jiyi", and "Siwei" acupoints according to FANG's scalp-acupuncture therapy for 30 min, once daily for 10 days. The rat's learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze tests, and the expression of apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2 of astrocytes in the hippocampus was detected by immunofluorescence double labeling technique and Western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morris water maze tests showed that the average escape latency of place navigation test and the duration of the first platform-site crossover (space probing test) were significantly increased in the model group compared with the normal control group (P<0.01), and the number of platform-site crossovers in 2 min was markedly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). The increased average escape latency and the increased duration of first platform-site crossover were markedly shortened in the scalp-acupuncture group in comparison with the model group (P<0.01), and the number of the platform crossovers in 2 min was significantly increased in the scalp-acupuncture group (P<0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 protein and the number of GFAP/Bcl-2-labeled cells of hippocampal CA 1 region in the model group were remarkably decreased compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). After scalp-acupuncture intervention, the decreased Bcl-2 protein expression level and the number of double-labeled GFAP/Bcl-2 cells were significantly up-regulated in the scalp-acupuncture group compared with the model group (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the normal control and sham-operation groups in the escape latency, duration of the first platform-site crossover, number of platform crossovers in 2 min, number of GFAP/Bcl-2 double labeled cells and the expression level of hippocampal Bcl-2 protein (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scalp-acupuncture can effectively regulate the expression of apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2 of astrocytes in the CA 1 region of hippocampus in rats with VD, which may contribute to its effect in the improvement of VD.
authors.forename: Wen-jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Lin-na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Rui-hui
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012535:Scalp
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2