[Effects of electroacupuncture on the blood-brain-barrier and proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus of rats with vascular dementia].

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the hippocampus of vascular dementia (VD) rats, so as to explore the mechanism of EA on treatment of VD.SD male rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model, and EA groups, with 15 rats in each group. The VD rat model was established by permanently occlusion of the bilateral middle cerebral artery. Rats of the EA group received EA at "Baihui" (GV20), "Dazhui" (GV14), and bilateral "Shenshu"(BL23) for 30 min, 6 days a week for a total of 4 weeks. Morris water maze test was used to assess the cognitive function of rats. Evans blue staining was used to detect the BBB permeability, transmission electron microscopy and ELISA were used to detect the ultrastructure of BBB and the contents of hippocampal IL-1β and IL-18, respectively.Following modeling, compared with the sham operation group, the mean escape latency of model group was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), the times of crossing the platform were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the content of Evans blue, and the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in hippocampus were increased (P<0.01). After the intervention, comparison between the model and EA groups showed that the average escape latency of rats in EA group was significantly shortened (P<0.01), the times of crossing the platform were increased (P<0.05), the content of Evans blue, and the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in hippocampus were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The ultrastructure of BBB was moderately damaged in the model group, which was evidenced by blurred endothelial cell membrane structure, obviously dropsical astrocyte foot process, and decreased tight junctions. The ultrastructure of BBB was slightly damaged and astrocyte foot had no obvious edema in the EA group.EA can significantly improve the learning and memory ability of VD rats and improve the BBB permeability, which may be related to its effect in inhibiting the expression of IL-1β and IL-18 in the hippocampus.目的:观察电针对血管性痴呆(VD)大鼠血脑屏障(BBB)通透性和海马组织中促炎细胞因子白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-18的影响, 探讨电针治疗VD大鼠的作用机制。方法:SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和电针组, 每组15只。使用双侧颈总动脉永久性结扎法制备VD大鼠模型。电针组予电针“百会”“大椎”及双侧“肾俞”, 每次30 min, 每周6次, 连续4周。造模前、造模后及干预后采用Morris水迷宫实验对大鼠进行行为学检测;干预后, 采用伊文思蓝(EB)法检测BBB通透性, 透射电镜观察BBB超微结构, ELISA法测定海马中IL-1β、IL-18含量。结果:与假手术组比较, 模型组大鼠造模后平均逃避潜伏期显著延长(P<0.01), 穿越原平台次数显著减少(P<0.01), 脑组织EB含量及海马中IL-1β、IL-18含量显著增加(P<0.01)。与模型组比较, 电针组大鼠干预后平均逃避潜伏期显著缩短(P<0.01), 穿越原平台次数增加(P<0.05), 脑组织EB含量及海马中IL-1β、IL-18含量显著减少(P<0.01)。假手术组大鼠BBB超微结构无显著异常;模型组大鼠BBB呈中度损伤, 内皮细胞膜结构模糊, 局部破损, 星形胶质细胞脚板明显水肿, 紧密连接减少;电针组BBB呈轻度损伤, 星形胶质细胞脚板未见明显水肿, 紧密连接连续性好、较长。结论:电针能明显改善VD大鼠学习记忆能力, 调节其BBB通透性, 其机制可能与抑制IL-1β、IL-18表达有关。.