Objective To explore the effects of electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) acupoint on learning and memory and its possible mechanism through the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice. Methods 30 female APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into model group, DU20 group and non-acupoint group, and 10 wild type mice con-sisted of wild group. DU20 group received electroacupuncture at Baihui and the non-acupoint group received electroacupuncture at non-acu-point for 28 days. Learning and memory was tested by Morris water maze. Deposition ofβ-amyloid (Aβ) peptide was determined by immu-nohistochemical staining. The expression of BDNF in cortex was examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, DU20 group ameliorated the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice (P<0.05), decreased the deposi-tion of Aβpeptide (P<0.05) and upregulated the gene and protein levels of BDNF (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the model group and non-acupoint group (P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at DU20 acupoint could ameliorate learning and memory in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice. The mechanism may be related to increase the expression of BDNF and decrease the deposition of Aβ.

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shenting (DU24) and Baihui (DU20) acupoints on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and learning and memory function, and its possible mechanism in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods Thirty-two male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n=8), model group (n=8), electroacupuncture (EA) group (n=8) and non-acupoint group (n=8). The model group, EA group and non-acupoint group were performed with left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The EA group received electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui, while the non-acupoint group received electroacupuncture at two fixed non-acupoints from bilateral ribs, for fourteen days. Then they were tested with Morris Water Maze test, and their synaptic structure of hippocampal neurons was observed with transmission electron microscope. The level of total LIM-domain containing protein kinase 1 (T-LIMK1) and LIM-domain containing protein kinase 1 phosphorylation (p-LIMK1) were detected with Western blotting. Results Compared with the sham group, the latency increased (t>6.789, P<0.01) and the frequence crossing platform decreased (t= 8.695, P<0.001) in the model group, while the number of synapse in hippocampal neurons decreased, and the level of T-LIMK1 (t=7.568, P< 0.01) and p-LIMK1 (t=8.874, P<0.001) decreased. Compared with the model group, the latency decreased (t>4.938, P<0.01) and the frequence crossing platform increased (t=- 7.891, P<0.001) in the EA group, while the number of synapses increased, and the level of T-LIMK1 (t=-6.473, P<0.01) and p-LIMK1 (t=-6.579, P<0.01) increased. There was no significant difference between the the non-acupoint group and the model group in all the indices (P>0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Shenting and Baihui can improve the ability of learning and memory in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which may relate with the increase of LIMK1 phosphorylation and hippo-campal synaptic plasticity.