针刺拟痴呆大鼠对脑内自由基系统与胆碱能系统功能影响相关性的分析

Effect of Acupuncture on Free Radical System and Cholinergic System in the Brain of Alzheimer's Disease Rats

目的 :运用自由基学说和胆碱能学说 ,探讨针刺对拟阿耳茨海默氏病 (AD)大鼠大脑皮质及海马抗氧化能力和胆碱能系统功能的影响。方法 :应用迷宫试验观测针刺对拟AD大鼠学习记忆能力的影响 ;并应用分光光度法测定大鼠大脑皮质中丙二醛 (MDA)含量及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (GSH Px)、超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)活性变化 ,应用巯基比色分析法、免疫组化方法测定大鼠海马区乙酰胆碱酯酶 (AChE)和胆碱乙酰化酶 (ChAT)活性变化。结果 :迷宫学习记忆能力测试表明 ,针刺组大鼠成绩好于模型组 (P <0 .0 1) ;针刺组大鼠大脑皮质中MDA含量比模型组显著降低(P <0 .0 1) ,而SOD和GSH Px活性明显升高 (P <0 .0 1) ;在AChE和ChAT测定中 ,针刺组比模型组大鼠AChE、ChAT活性明显增强 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :针刺可增强脑内抗氧化能力 ,减轻脑内自由基对神经元的损伤 ,从而改善AD的病理反应 ,提高中枢胆碱能系统功能 。

Objective: To study the effects of acupuncture on antioxidative ability and cholinergic nervous system activity of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in experimental Alzheimer's disease(AD)rats. Methods: 53 SD rats were randomized into control (n=15), model (n=13), electroacupuncture (EA, n=13) and rehabilitation (n=12) groups. AD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of AlCl 3 (49.4 mg/kg/day, continuously for 30 days). EA (dense sparse waves, 30 Hz) was applied to “Baihui'(GV 20), “Dazhui'(GV 14), “Shenshu'(BL 23) and “Xinshu'(BL 15) for 10 min, once every other day, continuously for 40 days. Rats of rehabilitation group were fed with Piracetum (0.32 g/kg), once daily. AD rats' learning memory ability was tested with maze method, and cerebral malondaldehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) Px activity were detected with biochemical methods, hippocampal AChE and ChAT activities were assayed with immunohistochemical technique. Results: The AD rats' learning memory ability in acupuncture group was significantly better than that of model group and rehabilitation group(P<0.01, 0.05). Compared with control group, cerebral MDA level of model group increased significantly, cerebral GSH Px and SOD activities, and hippocampal AChE and ChAT activities of model group lowered considerably (P<0.01); while in comparison with model group, cerebral MDA activity of rehabilitation and EA groups decreased significantly (P<0.05, 0.01) and the effect of EA was significantly superior to that of Piracetum (P<0.05). Compared with model group, GSH Px, SOD, AChE and ChAT activities raised remarkably and the effect of EA was also significantly superior to that of Piracetum (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture can increase the antioxidative ability and reduce free radical mediated neuronal damage in the brain, which may contribute to its action in improving AD rats' learning memory ability.