| Objective To study the influence of electro-acupuncture(EA) therapy on the general morphous of hippocampal synapse,the curvature of synaptic interface,the post synaptic density(PSD),the synaptic cleft and other synaptic ultrastructures of SAMP8 rat's hippocampal neuron to explore the partial curative mechanism of EA therapy for Alzheimer's disease(AD) in the perspective of synaptic morphological plasticity.Methods According to the therapeutic principle of "Tonifying kidney and activating Du meridian to refresh the mind and promote intelligence", SAMP8 rats were treated with EA therapy on "Baihui(Du20)" and "Yongquan(Kidneyl)".The treatment was applied once daily and totally for 21 days.The changes of learning and memory abilities of these animal models were observed and recorded by Morris water maze to evaluate the curative effect of EA therapy.The changes of the general morphous of hippocampal synapse,the curvature of synaptic interface, the thickness of post synaptic density and the width of synaptic cleft were observed by electron microscope.Results 1.Compared to control group,the average escape latency of EA group was decreased(P＜0.05);Compared to control group(30.59±6.02s),the time of swim in primary platform quadrant of EA group(38.55±3.59s) were increased(P＜0.05).2.Compared to control group, structure of neural synapse in EA group were comparatively clear and complete,the thickness of PSD in EA group was increased(P＜0.05),the width of synaptic cleft in EA group was decreased(P＜0.05) and the curvature of the synaptic interface in EA group had no obvious changes and only shown increasing-tendency(P＞0.05).Conclusion 1.EA therapy could improve the learning and memory abilities of SAMP8 rats in a certain extent.2.EA therapy could influence morphological plasticity in hippocampal synapse by thickening PSD, narrowing synaptic cleft and so on.3.The curative mechanism of EA therapy may be related to enhancing synaptic morphological plasticity of hippocampal neurons. |
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