Postoperative Electroacupuncture Boosts Cognitive Function Recovery after Laparotomy in Mice

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a prevalent complication impacting memory and executive functions.
• Neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology are key contributors to POCD.
• Acupuncture shows promise for early-stage POCD, but long-term effects remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation following laparotomy in mice.
• To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying EA's protective effects against POCD.

Main Methods:

• Mice underwent laparotomy followed by daily electroacupuncture (EA) for two weeks.
• Cognitive functions (memory, executive function) were assessed.
• Molecular analyses examined tau phosphorylation, kinase activation, and glial responses.

Main Results:

• Laparotomy induced sustained memory and executive function impairments.
• Postoperative EA treatment significantly mitigated these cognitive deficits.
• EA reduced tau phosphorylation and suppressed tau-related kinases and glial activation, comparable to ibuprofen.
• EA demonstrated neuroprotective effects by suppressing neuroinflammation.

Conclusions:

• Electroacupuncture (EA) provides long-term benefits for cognitive dysfunction following surgery.
• EA's anti-inflammatory effects contribute to its protective role in a mouse model of POCD.
• EA presents a promising non-pharmacological intervention for managing POCD.