Objective: To study the effect of auricular acupuncture on dysmnesia and the relationship between the memory improvement and bcl 2 protein expression in vascular dementia (VD) rats. Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomized into control group, VD group, acupuncture+VD group and pseudo operation group, with 10 cases in each group. Rat VD model was established by using 4 vessel occlusion method. Otopoint "Nao" point and "Shen"(MA SC) were punctured, once daily continuously for 15 days. The rats’ memory capability was tested with Y maze method and bcl 2 expression of the brain tissues displayed by immunohistochemical method and measured using MIAS 2000 Image Analyzer. Results: Results showed that the scores of control group, VD group and acupuncture+VD group before operation were 5.68±1.29, 6.07±1.67 and 5.86±1.74 respectively, while following auricular acupuncture treatment, the scores of the 3 groups were 5.81±1.51, 18.06±2.68 and 8.31±1.85 separately, suggesting that the VD rat’s learning and memory abilities in acupuncture+VD group were raised apparently in comparison with those of VD group (P<0.01). In control, VD and acupuncture+VD group, bcl 2 immuno reaction positive neurons in CA 1 area of the hippocampus were 14.31±4.87, 28.67±5.63 and 65.74±8.19 respectively, displaying that the improvement of learning and memory abilities caused by auricular acupuncture treatment may be related to the up regulation of bcl 2 expression (an inhibitory gene of apoptosis). In comparison with control group, the loss of neurons in the pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampal CA 1 area of VD group was more severe, while that of acupuncture group was markedly lighter. Conclusion: Auricular acupuncture of otopoint "Nao" point and "Shen"(MA SC) can raise the learning and memory abilities of VD rats, which may be realized by its inhibitory effect on apoptosis and the protection action on ischemic hippocampal neurons.
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