title: Electroacupuncture improves cognitive deficits and activates PPAR-γ in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with a progressive impairment of cognition. Acupuncture has protective effects, although the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) has an impact on the pathogenesis of AD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that electroacupuncture (EA) confers therapeutic benefits through activation of PPAR-γ in a rat model of AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=20 each): Control (healthy control group), Sham (sham-operated group), AD (untreated AD model group), and AD+EA (AD model group treated with EA). The AD model was induced in the latter two groups by injection of amyloid-β (Aβ)1-40 into the hippocampal CA1 area bilaterally. EA was administered at GV20 and BL23 six times per week for 4 weeks. The rats' behaviour was examined using the Morris water maze test, and protein expression of Aβ, hyperphosphorylated tau protein (p-Tau), PPAR-γ, and hyperphosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in the hippocampal CA1 region was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EA significantly improved cognitive deficits and reduced Aβ and p-Tau Ser404 protein concentrations in the hippocampal CA1 region. AD decreased PPAR-γ and increased p-p38MAPK, while EA significantly upregulated PPAR-γ expression and significantly downregulated p-p38MAPK expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture at GV20 and BL23 might have a beneficial effect on rats with AD via activation of PPAR-γ and inhibition of p-p38MAPK expression.
authors.affiliation: Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.|Medical College of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Xv
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Xin
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Nursing College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Di-Juan
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Nursing College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000818:Animals; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000378:metabolism; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D047495:PPAR gamma; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE