Acupuncture Protects Brain Regions in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Reducing Tau Protein
Huiling Tian , Yujie Li , Shun Wang , Zidong Wang , Jiayi Yang , Hao Liu , Jingyu Ren , Jiheng Zuo , Yushan Gao , Ruosang Du , Zhigang Li , Xin Wang , Jing Jiang
›› 2025, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (1) : 31 -38.
Acupuncture Protects Brain Regions in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Reducing Tau Protein
Background and objectives: Acupuncture treatment on the DU channel has shown therapeutic effects for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively observe the protective effects of acupuncture on different brain regions in AD model mice, providing laboratory evidence for clinical acupuncture intervention in AD.
Methods: Eleven senescence-resistant strain 1 male mice were used as the normal control group. The senescence-accelerated prone strain 8 (SAMP8) male mice were used as AD model mice. Thirty-three SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into three groups: AD model group (group M), drug treatment group, and acupuncture treatment group (group A). The effect of acupuncture on learning and memory capabilities of SAMP8 mice was assessed by the Morris water maze test. Nissl staining was employed to provide a general view of the brain structure in AD model mice. Additionally, Western blot analysis was used to quantify Caspase-3 and tau protein levels.
Results: In the spatial navigation test, the ratio of time mice spent in the goal quadrant in group M remained low, even lower than 25%. The ratio of time spent in the goal quadrant by mice in the acupuncture group on day 4 was higher than that on day 1 (P < 0.01). There was a trend indicating that the time ratio of mice in the acupuncture group during the probe trial was higher than in group M, though there was no statistically significant difference. Most traces of mice in group A were in the goal platform quadrant and across the platform in different, yet effective, ways. Compared to group M, most of the cells in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and temporal cortex of mice in group A were round with clear stratification, regular arrangement, and increased Nissl bodies. The content of Caspase-3 in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of mice in the acupuncture group was lower than in group M (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The content of tau in the hippocampus and temporal cortex of mice in group A was lower than in group M (P < 0.05; P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Acupuncture at the DU channel can improve learning and memory abilities to a certain degree by reducing apoptosis in the frontal cortex and hippocampus and decreasing tau deposition in the hippocampus and temporal cortex of AD model mice.
Acupuncture / DU channel / Alzheimer’s disease / Neurons / Apoptosis / Tau protein
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