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Updated: Aug 20, 2025
Mouse Electroacupuncture Fixation Device Fabrication for Electroacupuncture Pretreatment in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 18, 2025
Electroacupuncture improves cognitive impairment in diabetic cognitive dysfunction rats by regulating the
Xia Ge1, Ling Wang2, Qianqian Cui3
1Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230001, China.
Background:
Diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction has become a major public health concern. However, the mechanisms driving this disease are elusive. Herein, we explored how electroacupuncture improves learning and memory function in diabetic rats.
Methods:
The diabetic model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were fed on high-fat and high-sugar diets. Learning and memory functions were assessed using behavioral tests. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Western blotting, real-time PCR, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) was performed to test related indicators.
Results:
High-fat and high-sugar diets impaired learning and memory function in rats, while electroacupuncture treatment reversed these changes. The model group presented highly prolonged escape latency compared to the control group, indicating impaired learning and memory functions. The TEM examination showed that electroacupuncture enhanced Aβ clearance and mitochondrial autophagy in hippocampal neuronal cells by increasing DISC1 expression.
Conclusions:
Electroacupuncture improves learning and memory function in diabetic rats by increasing DISC1 expression to promote mitophagy. This enhanced Aβ clearance, alleviating cytotoxicity in hippocampal neuronal cells.
