Effects of electroacupuncture on behavioral deficits, hippocampal neuronal death and oxidative stress in rats with parkinson"s disease

Abstract

We aimed to study electroacupuncture (EA) for its potential neuroprotection against oxidative stress, death of hippocampal neurons and behavioral deficits in rats with Parkinson"s disease (PD). PD was induced by rotenone (2 mg/kg, subcutaneous injection) in male Wistar rats. EA group, control group, miR-331-5p antagomir group, model group and EA + miR-331-5p antagomir group were set up. The novel object recognition tests together with shuttle box tests were conducted to examine the cognitive function, and the pain sensitivity was measured by the tail flick test. In comparison to the control group, the cognitive function and thermal pain threshold significantly declined in the model group. The model group had decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the hippocampus. More hippocampal neuronal loss was detected from the model group. EA increased the hippocampal GPx plus SOD activity and decreased the MDA content. EA or miR-331-5p antagomir raised the quantity of alive hippocampal neurons and the BDNF expression. EA can prevent rotenone-induced non-motor disorders through antioxidation and neuroprotective functions.

Keywords

• electroacupuncture
• mir
• neuroprotection
• oxidative stress
• parkinson"s disease