Electroacupuncture Attenuates Cognitive Impairment in Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion via miR-137/NOX4 Axis

Xiaochen Bi; Yanfei Feng; Zemin Wu; Jianqiao Fang

doi:10.1155/2021/8842022

Electroacupuncture Attenuates Cognitive Impairment in Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion via miR-137/NOX4 Axis

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Apr 19:2021:8842022. doi: 10.1155/2021/8842022. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Xiaochen Bi¹, Yanfei Feng², Zemin Wu³, Jianqiao Fang⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
² Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (The Xinhua Hospital of Zhejiang Province), Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
³ The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
⁴ Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Abstract

Electroacupuncture has shown protective effects on cognitive decline. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not clear. The present study was conducted to determine whether the cognitive function was ameliorated in cerebral hypoperfusion rats following electroacupuncture and to investigate the role of miR-137/NOX4 axis. In this study, chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) model was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. Electroacupuncture treatment attenuated brain injury in CCH model group via regulating miR-137/NOX4 axis. Furthermore, the data of neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress were observed. Our findings indicated that (1) neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress in CCH rats were significantly increased compared with control group; (2) the animal cognitive performance was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM). The results showed that electroacupuncture therapy ameliorated spatial learning and memory impairment in cerebral hypoperfusion rats; and (3) electroacupuncture therapy reduces neuronal apoptosis and oxidative stress by activating miR-137/NOX4 axis. These results suggest that electroacupuncture therapy for CCH may be mediated by miR-137/NOX4 axis. Electroacupuncture therapy may act as a potential therapeutic approach for chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.