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[Effect of electroacupuncture on cognitive functions, hippocampal HIF-1α and neurons apoptosis in postoperative cognitive dysfunction rats].

OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on learning and memory ability, hippocampal hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) and apoptosis in postoperative cognitive dysfunction(POCD) rats, and to investigate its mechanism underlying improvement of POCD.


METHODS
A total of 90 aged male SD rats were randomized into a sham-operation group, a model group and an EA group, 30 rats in each group, which were further divided into 3 time-point subgroups (1, 3 and 7 days after intevention, 10 rats in each subgroup). In the model group and the EA group, left hepatectomy was adopted to establish the model of POCD. In the sham-operation group, the skin was sectioned and no hepatectomy was operated. In the EA group, EA was applied at "Siguan" ["Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taichong" (LR 3)] with dilatational wave, 2 Hz/100 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in intensity, 20 min each time, once a day. Morris water maze test was adopted to observe the cognitive functions. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the hippocampal level of HIF-1α. TUNEL method was used to evaluate the hippocampal level of neurons apoptosis. Double immunofluorescence labeling was used to detect the colocalization of HIF-1α and apoptosis in the EA group.


RESULTS
Compared with the sham-operation group, the escape latency was prolonged and the frequency of platform leaping was reduced in the model group (P<0.05) after 1, 3, 7 days of intervention. Compared with the model group,the escape latency was shortened and the frequency of platform leaping was increased in the EA group (P<0.05) after 1, 3, 7 days of intervention. After 3 days of intervention, compared with the sham-operation group, the expressions of HIF-1α mRNA and protein, the level of apoptosis were increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group,the expressions of HIF-1α mRNA and protein, the level of apoptosis were decreased in the EA group (P<0.05). The colocalization of HIF-1α and apoptosis was observed in same cells in the EA group.


CONCLUSION
Electroacupuncture improves cognitive functions in postoperative cognitive dysfunction rats, which may be related to its effect in down-regulating the expression of hippocampal HIF-1α and inhibiting the neurons apoptosis.