This paper reviewed the studies on the effect of electroacupuncture in improving learning and memory functions in the past 10 years. It showed an overview of the mechanisms that how acupuncture worksed: promoting synaptic plasticity, regulation of microvascular injury and oxidative stress; slowing down the progress of brain cell apoptosis, inhibition of inflammatory response;regulating neurotransmitter release and protecting the ultrastructure of neurons. In addition, this paper puts forth the problems which left in the current studies.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on depressive-like behavior, synaptic plasticity and 5-HTT protein expression of hippocampal CA1 region in the WKY model rats. Methods In this experiment, 10 male Wistar rats were selected as the normal group (Control), and 30 male WKY rats were randomly divided into model group, electroacupuncture group (EA) and sham needle group (Sham EA) . Behavioral testing was performed by the Sour Water Preference Experiment (SPT), the Open Field Experiment (OFT), and the Forced Swimming Experiment (FST) . The electrophysiological field potential experiment was used to detect the effect of electroacupuncture on LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats with depression, which is the effect on synaptic plasticity. The expression of 5-HTT protein in hippocampal CA1 region was detected by Western blot. Results In the SPT, compared to the Control group, the sucrose solution intake was significantly reduced in the Model group (P ＜ 0.01) . It was improved after EA treatment compared to Sham EA group (P ＜ 0.05) . In the OFT, compared with the Control group, the center time, total move time, center distance, total distance, rearing and grooming incidents were all decreased in the Model group. Compared with the Model group, the center time and total move time in the EA group increased significantly after 3 weeks of treatment (P ＜0.05) . In the FST, duration of immobility was significantly (P ＜ 0.05) longer in the Model group comparing with the Control group. Compared with Sham EA group and Model group, the immobile time of EA group was significantly shorter (P ＜ 0.05) . Compared with the Control group, the fEPSP slope of the Model group was significantly shorter (P ＜ 0.001) .Compared with the Sham EA group, the fEPSP slope of the EA group increased significantly (P ＜ 0.001) . And the LTP of Sham EA and Model groups induced failure in hippocampal CA1 region, the LTP induction was successful after EA treatment. Compared with the Control group, the expression of 5-HTT protein was significantly increased (P＜0.001) .Compared with Sham EA group, the expression of 5-HTT protein in EA group decreased (P ＜ 0.001) . Conclusion EA could alleviate depression-like behaviors in depression model rats and reverse the impairment of hippocampus synaptic plasticity by decrease the over-expression of 5-HTT protein in hippocampal CA1 region. It may be one of the mechanisms of EA on depression.

Objective To study the action and mechanism of Sancai Lianmei Particle on cell apoptosis of liver cells in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus(T2DM)combined with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease(NAFLD).Methods High fat and sugar + STZ induced diabetic with fatty liver rats used as models,intervention with Sancai Lianmei Particle,intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)to assess insulin resistance,ELISA method to detect the mice serum biochemistry,insulin levels;ELISA method to detect inflammatory factors in liver homogenate;SOD and MDA levels were monitored to assess the degree of oxidative stress;ASK1/JNK/NF-κB mRNA expression in liver tissue was monitored by Real-time PCR;apoptotic-related proteins were detected by Western blot,apoptosis of hepatocytes was assayed by TUNEL;HE staining was conducted to observe the liver tissue.Results Sancai Lianmei Particle can obviously reduce the body weight of T2DM with NAFLD model rats;reduce the levels of GHb,INS,TC,TG,LDL-C,ALT,AST,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,MDA;improve insulin resistance and oxidative stress.HE staining of liver tissue showed that Sancai Lianmei Particle could alleviate the vacuolar degeneration of liver and deposition of lipid droplets.Sancai Lianmei Particle can effectively down-regulate the expressions of ASK1,JNK and NF-κB mRNA in liver tissues of model rats.Western Blot results exhibited that Sancai Lianmei Particle could significantly regulate the expression of apoptotic proteins of Bax,Caspase-3,and Bcl-2 and inhibit the apoptosis of hepatocytes.Conclusion This study proved that Sancai Lianmei Particle can improve hepatic insulin resistance and oxidative stress,slow the progression of NAFLD by regulating liver cell apoptosis based on ROS-ASK1-JNK/NF-κB pathway.