title: Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function through Rho GTPases and enhances dendritic spine plasticity in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive function following cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion (I/R) injury, and to clarify the mechanism through which Rho GTPase is associated with EA analgesia modulation of dendritic spine plasticity. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: The sham surgery group, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of ischemia group, and the MCAO with EA (MCAO+EA) treatment group. The MCAO+EA group received treatment with EA at points of Baihui (DU20) and Shenting (DU24) following surgery. It was demonstrated that treatment with EA significantly (P<0.05) protected the cognitive function of rats from impairment caused by cerebral I/R injury. Furthermore, EA treatment increased the density of dendritic spines in the hippocampus of cerebral I/R‑injured rats. Simultaneously, EA increased the expression of cell division cycle 42, Ras‑related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 and F‑actin proteins. By contrast, EA treatment inhibited the expression of Ras homologous member A. Collectively, these findings suggest that Rho GTPases and dendritic spine plasticity are critical in mediating the effects of EA treatment at the points of Shenting and Baihui, and that EA protects against impairment of cognitive function following ischemic stroke.
authors: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Ruhui
authors: R
authors: Lin
authors: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Yunan
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Tao
authors: TCM Rehabilitation Research Center of SATCM, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Chen
authors: Fujian Key Laboratory of Exercise Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Jixiang
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Fujian Key Laboratory of Exercise Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Congkuai
authors: C
authors: Zhao
authors: Fujian Key Laboratory of Exercise Rehabilitation, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Kunqiang
authors: K
authors: Yu
authors: Fujian Rehabilitation Tech Co‑innovation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Xiaojie
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, P.R. China.
authors: Li-Dian
authors: LD
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins