Electroacupuncture alleviates cognitive impairment in mice with vascular dementia by regulating the cholinergic vasodilation system

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a potential and reliable treatment for vascular dementia (VaD). This study aims to explore the mechanism of EA in the treatment of VaD based on neurovascular coupling.

The VaD model was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). Mice received EA at Baihui (GV20), Geshu (BL17), and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints for 7 days. Then, behavioral tests, leptomeningeal microvascular observation, immunofluorescence of basal forebrain neurons, and molecular analyses of the ACh/NO pathway were conducted.

EA stimulation alleviated cognitive impairment in VaD mice, dilated leptomeningeal arterioles, enhanced neuronal activity and acetylcholine expression in the basal forebrain, and increased the levels of m-1AChR, α-7-nAChR, eNOS, and NO in the frontal cortex. The m-1AChR antagonist (THP), but not the α-7-nAChR antagonist (MLA), partially reversed these regulatory effects of EA.

EA dilates cerebral arterioles by up-regulating the ACh/NO pathway within cholinergic vasodilation system, thereby alleviating cognitive impairment induced by VaD.