针刺对痴呆鼠SAMP8老化体征及认知能力的影响

Effect of acupuncture on signs of senescence and cognitive function in SAMP8 mice

关键词:  阿尔茨海默病  衰老  认知能力  “益气调血, 扶本培元”针法

Key words:  Alzheimer’s disease  aging  cognitive function  “YiQi TiaoXue, FuBen PeiYuan” acupuncture

摘要:

[目的] 探讨针刺延缓衰老、改善认知的作用。[方法] 将快速老化痴呆小鼠(SAMP8)及其正常同源对照小鼠(SAMR1)分为SAMR1对照组、SAMP8对照组、SAMP8针刺组和SAMP8非穴组。针刺组给予“益气调血, 扶本培元”针法治疗, 非穴组针刺双胁下两个固定非穴位点, 其余两组给予等量的捉抓刺激, 每日1次, 持续15 d.采用老化度评分表评价SAMP8的衰老程度, Morris水迷宫评价动物的学习记忆能力。[结果] 与SAMR1对照组相比, SAMP8各组呈现皮毛稀疏无光、眼周粗糙、行动缓慢等老化体征;其学习能力及记忆保持能力也出现明显损伤, 表现为思维僵化、学习过程减慢等。针刺能明显改善SAMP8的认知能力, 但对其老化症状无影响。[结论] 针刺能有效改善衰老后认知功能减退, 为阿尔茨海默病治疗提供了新的选择。

Abstract:

[Objective] To study the effect of acupuncture on delaying brain aging and the improvement of cognition. [Methods] The mice of SAMP8 and their corresponding normal control SAMR1 mice were assigned to the following four groups: SAMR1 control group (Rc), SAMP8 control group (Pc), SAMP8 acupuncture group (Pa) and SAMP8 non-acupoint group (Pn). Pa was treated with “YiQi TiaoXue, FuBen PeiYuan” acupuncture once daily for 15 days. For the Pn mice, the nonacupoints at hypochondrium on both sides of the body were stimulated. The two control groups were grasped in the same amount of time and with the same extent of strength as that in Pa and Pn. The degree of senescence in SAMP8 mice was evaluated by the grading score system. Spatial learning and memory of mice was assessed by using Morris water maze. [Results] Compared to the SAMR1, the grading scores were significantly higher in the SAMP8, exhibiting more severe impairments in hair loss, lack of hair glossiness, coarseness and reduced activities. The cognitive abilities of SAMP8 damaged apparently, which showed up by rigid thinking pattern and slow learning process in their Morris water maze tasks. After acupuncture treatment, the cognitive function of SAMP8 mice improved significantly, but the senescence scores for them were not changed. [Conclusion] Acupuncture can improve the cognitive dysfunction with aging may be a potential therapy and become a new treatment choice for Alzheimer's disease patients.