Brain areas involved in the acupuncture treatment of AD model rats: a PET study

Abstract

BackgroundAcupuncture may effectively treat certain symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although several studies have used functional brain imaging to investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment on AD, these mechanisms are still poorly understood. We therefore further explored the mechanism by which needling at ST36 may have a therapeutic effect in a rat AD model.MethodsA total of 80 healthy Wistar rats were divided into healthy control (n = 15) and pre-model (n = 65) groups. After inducing AD-like disease, a total of 45 AD model rats were randomly divided into three groups: the model group (n = 15), the sham-point group (n = 15), and the ST36 group (n = 15). The above three groups underwent PET scanning. PET images were processed with SPM2.ResultsThe brain areas that were activated in the sham-point group relative to the model group were primarily centred on the bilateral limbic system, the right frontal lobe, and the striatum, whereas the activated areas in the ST36 group were primarily centred on the bilateral limbic system (pyriform cortex), the bilateral temporal lobe (olfactory cortex), the right amygdala and the right hippocampus. Compared with the sham-point group, the ST36 group showed greater activation in the bilateral amygdalae and the left temporal lobe.ConclusionWe concluded that needling at a sham point or ST36 can increase blood perfusion and glycol metabolism in certain brain areas, and thus may have a positive influence on the cognition of AD patients.

Genomewide Analysis of Rat Periaqueductal Gray-Dorsal Horn Reveals Time-, Region- and Frequency-Specific mRNA Expression Changes in Response to Electroacupuncture Stimulation

“…Apbb1 interacted with App to regulate Aβ generation from App 36 . Although numerous acupoints are used to treat Alzheimer's disease, ST36-SP6 has long been used in TCM as main acupoints to treat AD in clinical and animal studies 37 38 . This result suggests that EA stimulation results in comprehensive decreases in the expression of genes related to Aβ generation, especially Apbb1/App signaling, to induce significant neuroprotective effects in AD.…”

Comprehensive evaluation of gene expression signatures in response to electroacupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint by transcriptomic analysis

“…Acupuncture has shown some benefit effects on Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Lu et al [ 32 ] showed that acupuncture at ST36 increases blood perfusion and glycol metabolism in certain brain areas in Alzheimer’s disease rat model by Positron Emission Tomography scanning. ST36 stimulation also induces neurogenesis in adult brains via the up-regulations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and neuropeptide Y, and the activation of the function of primo vascular system [ 33 ].…”

Hypothesis on the Treatment of Gliomas with Acupuncture at the Primo Node Corresponding toZusanli(ST 36)

“…For instance, there are many reports on electroacupuncture (EA) on ST 36, with one last year mentioning about the brain areas involved in the acupuncture treatment using ST 36 for an Alzheimer's disease model in rats. 53 Another interesting report 54 suggested that sciatic-nerve transection could reduce the total number of mast cells in ST 36 although the authors of that article did not mention the PVS or Kim's work.…”