针刺干预对VaD大鼠Caspase-3通路相关蛋白的影响

Effect of Acupuncture Intervention on Caspase-3 Pathway Related Proteins in VaD Rats

目的 观察针刺对血管性痴呆(vascular dementia,Va D)大鼠学习记忆能力及半胱天冬酶(cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase,Caspase)-3通路相关蛋白的影响及其机制研究,探索针刺防治Va D的新靶点。方法 健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和针刺组,模型组和针刺组大鼠制备Va D模型,针刺组选取百会和双侧肾俞、丰隆进行针刺干预2周,假手术组和模型组不予其他干预。观察各组大鼠的行为学、海马CA1区形态学改变,检测B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因(B-cell lymphoma-2,Bcl-2)、Caspase-3、Bcl-2相关X蛋白(Bcl-2-associated X protein,Bax) m RNA及蛋白的表达。结果 与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠逃避潜伏期明显延长(P<0.01),穿越平台次数显著减少(P<0.01),大鼠海马组织内Bax、Caspase-3 m RNA及蛋白的表达明显增加(P<0.01),Bcl-2 m RNA及蛋白的表达明显下降(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,针刺组大鼠逃避潜伏期明显缩短(P<0.01),穿越平台次数明显增加(P<0.01),大鼠海马区Bax、Caspase-3 m RNA及蛋白表达明显下降(P<0.01),Bcl-2 m RNA及蛋白水平明显增加(P<0.01)。结论 针刺能提高Va D大鼠的学习记忆能力,其机制可能与调节Caspase-3通路相关蛋白表达、抑制神经元凋亡相关。

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on learning and memory ability and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase(Caspase)-3 pathway related proteins in vascular dementia(VaD)rats and its mechanism,and to explore the new target of acupuncture for the prevention and treatment of VaD.Methods Healthy male SD rats were divided into sham operation group,model group and acupuncture group randomly.The rats in sham operation group and model group were used to establish the VaD model.The Baihui(GV20),bilateral Shenshu(BL23)and Fenglong(ST40)were selected for acupuncture treatment for 2 weeks in acupuncture group,and no other intervention was performed in sham operation group and model group.The morphology of hippocampal CA1 and ethology were observed,and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Bcl-2,Caspase-3 and Bax were detected.Results Compared with sham operation group,the escape latency of model group was much longer(P<0.01);the number of crossing the platform reduced significantly(P<0.01);the protein expression and mRNA levels of Bax and Caspase-3 in hippocampal tissue increased significantly(P<0.01);while the protein expression and mRNA level of Bcl-2 decreased significantly(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the escape latency of acupuncture group was much shorter(P<0.01);the number of crossing the platform increased significantly(P<0.01);and the expression of mRNA and protein of Bax and Caspase-3 in hippocampal tissue of acupuncture group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);the protein expression and mRNA level of Bcl-2 increased significantly(P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture can improve the learning and memory ability of VaD rats,and its mechanism may be related to regulating the expression of Caspase-3 pathway related proteins and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis.