Effects of Shenque Moxibustion on Behavioral Changes and Brain Oxidative State in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Abstract EN

Purpose.

To determine whether moxibustion influences the learning and memory behavior of ApoE−/− male mice, and investigate the mechanism of moxibustion on the alteration of oxidized proteins (glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-amyloid) in hippocampus.

Methods.

Thirty-three ApoE−/− mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=11/group): moxibustion, sham moxibustion, and no treatment control.

Wild-type C57BL/6 mice n=13 were used for normal control.

Moxibustion was performed with Shenque (RN8) moxibustion for 20 minutes per day, 6 days/week for 12 weeks.

In sham control, the procedure was similar except burning of the moxa stick.

Behavioral tests (step-down test and Morris water maze task) were conducted in the 13th week.

The mice were then sacrificed and the tissues were harvested for immune-histochemical staining.

Results.

In the step-down test, the moxibustion group had shorter reaction time in training record and committed less mistakes compared to sham control.

In immune-histochemical study, the moxibustion group expressed lower level of GFAP and less aggregation of β-amyloid in the hippocampus than the sham control.

Conclusion.

Our findings suggest that moxibustion may enhance learning capability of ApoE−/− mice.

The mechanism may be via inhibiting oxidized proteins (GFAP and β-amyloid) in astrocytes.