Electro-acupuncture alleviates motor deficits and maladaptive striatal plasticity in partial-lesioned parkinsonian mice

Abstract

Background Parkinson's disease is characterized by abnormal synaptic transmission in the corticostriatal circuit that leads to deficits in motor abilities. Electro-acupuncture has shown to improve the motor behaviors in parkinsonian models. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the electro-acupuncture treatment, specifically in the partial-lesioned model, remain unclear. Methods By utilizing multiple approaches, including electrophysiological, immunohistochemistrical, molecular and behavioral methods, we assessed the effect of electro-acupuncture on the motor dysfunction and striatal synaptic plasticity in a partial-lesioned mouse model induced by intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. Results Electro-acupuncture ameliorated the disrupted gross and fine motor skills in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned mice. Notably, electro-acupuncture not only restored the injured corticostriatal long-term potentiation, but also reversed the loss of GluN1-containing NMDA receptors and GluA1-containing AMPA receptors in the striatum. Furthermore, the antagonists selective for AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors blocked the effect of electro-acupuncture on the corticostriatal long-term potentiation in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated mice. Conclusions These data suggest that the postsynaptic glutamate receptors in the striatum undergo the maladaptive changes in the early stage of Parkinson's disease. Electro-acupuncture improves the motor skills via a mechanism involving the modulation of corticostriatal synaptic plasticity and specific glutamate receptors in a partial-lesioned rodent model.