Electroacupuncture at "Baihui, Yintang and Shuigou" Acupoints Improves Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment in Mice

To study the effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture at "Baihui, Yintang and Shuigou" acupoints on learning and memory in Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment (PSCI) mice.

52 male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a MACO model by using middle cerebral artery occlusion (n=38), while the Sham only ligated at the distal end of the external carotid artery (n=14). After 28 days, the MCAO was divided into three groups based on the escape latency of Morris water maze: non cognitive impairment (MNP), post-stroke cognitive impairment (MP), and electroacupuncture intervention group (MPEA). In the MPEA, electroacupuncture at "Baihui and Yintang" acupoints was performed for 20 minutes (density wave, 2/15HZ and 1mA) supplemented by acupuncture at "Shuigou" acupoints once a day with a 6-day course of treatment. The intervention last for 2 courses with a 1-day interval. Morris water maze was used to detect the cognitive function of mice in each group; Nissl staining was used to observe hippocampal neurons; Western blot was used to detect the expression of GluA1, Syp, and Syt-1 in the affected hippocampus; IHC was used to detect the expression of Syp in the CA1 region of the contralateral hippocampus.

Acupuncture at points "Baihui, Yintang, and Shuigou" can improve the learning and memory abilities of PSCI mice, and its mechanism is related to synaptic plasticity of hippocampus.