Electroacupuncture and Changes of Synaptic Morphology in Alzheimer Disease

Abstract

Background:

Electroacupuncture (EA) has positive effects on Alzheimer disease (AD) in the clinic. However, its mechanism remains unclear.

Objective:

To observe the effect of EA on synaptic numeric density, surface density, and average size of synaptic conjunction in the neurons of AD model rats.

Design and Setting:

Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control, sham operation, model, and EA groups, with 6 rats in each, according to the results of water-maze tests. Only the rats in the EA group were treated with EA. The experiment was carried out at the Grade III Animal Experimental Center of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (China) between September 2002 and June 2003.

Main Outcome Measures:

Comparisons of synaptic numeric density, surface density, and average size of synaptic conjunction using transmission electron microscopy combined with stereology.

Results:

After EA treatment, the numeric and surface density in the hippocampal cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) of the EA group was higher than that of the control and sham operation group (P<.05).

Conclusions:

After treatment with EA, numeric and surface density of the AD rats were improved. Therefore, EA treatment may have a positive impact on the synaptic morphology in AD rats.