Improvement of Electroacupuncture on APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice in Spatial Learning and Memory Probably due to Expression of A β and LRP1 in Hippocampus

Abstract

Objectives. To explore the alterations of β-amyloid (A β) and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) in APP/PS1 mice after electroacupuncture (EA) treatment and further to explore the mechanism. Methods. Forty 6-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with twenty wild-type mice used as a normal control group. Mice in the EA group were treated with EA at GV 20 ( băi huì) and bilateral KI 1 ( yŏng quán) acupoints for 6 weeks. The Morris water maze was applied to assess the spatial memory in behavior. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), ELISA, Western blotting, and so forth were used to observe the expression of LRP1 and A β. Results. The Morris water maze test showed that, compared with the normal control group, the model group's learning and memory capabilities were significantly decreased ( P < 0.05; P < 0.01). The EA group was reversed ( P < 0.05; P < 0.01). The hippocampal expression of A β in the EA group was significantly decreased compared to the model group ( P < 0.01). The expression of LRP1 in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal control group ( P < 0.01); the expression in the EA group was significantly higher than that in the model group ( P < 0.01). Conclusions. EA therapy can improve the learning and memory capabilities of APP/PS1 mice. The underlying mechanism may lie in the upregulation of an A β transport receptor and LRP1.