Tranquilizing and Allaying Excitement Needling Method Affects BDNF and SYP Expression in Hippocampus

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sleep Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Sleep disorders, including insomnia, result in sleep loss, impacting emotion, learning, memory, and immune function.
• The mechanisms behind traditional "tranquilizing and allaying excitement" treatments for insomnia remain unclear.
• Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Synaptophysin (SYP) are crucial for neuronal plasticity and cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of sleep deprivation on BDNF and SYP expression in the rat hippocampus.
• To explore how "tranquilizing and allaying excitement" interventions affect BDNF and SYP levels in sleep-deprived rats.
• To provide molecular evidence for the effects of these interventions on learning and memory.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a rat model of sleep deprivation using the modified multiple platform sleep deprivation method (MMPM).
• Random division of rats into control, sleep deprivation, and acupuncture treatment groups.
• Quantification of BDNF and SYP protein and mRNA levels using Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and RT-PCR.

Main Results:

• Sleep deprivation led to abnormal expression of BDNF and SYP in the rat hippocampus.
• "Tranquilizing and allaying excitement" interventions, including acupuncture, modulated these abnormal expressions in both short-term and long-term effects.
• Observed changes in BDNF and SYP expression correlated with alterations in learning and memory abilities.

Conclusions:

• Sleep deprivation causes molecular changes in the hippocampus, specifically affecting BDNF and SYP.
• "Tranquilizing and allaying excitement" treatments can normalize these sleep deprivation-induced molecular abnormalities.
• This study offers molecular evidence supporting the use of "tranquilizing and allaying excitement" therapies for sleep disorders impacting cognitive function.