[Influence of acupuncture of "Changqiang" (GV 1) on learning-memory ability and gap junction-related protein expression in the prefrontal cortex in autism rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of "Changqiang" (GV 1) on learning-memory ability and gap junction-related protein expression in the prefrontal cortex in autism rats.

METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were equally randomized into control, model, GV 1 and non-acupoint groups. For establishing autism model, Valproate acid (VPA) sodium (600 mg/kg) was given (i. p.) to pregnancy rats whose intimate filial generation was confirmed to be successful autism by eye-open tests, swimming test and Morris water maze swimming tasks. GV 1 or non-acupoint (the spot below the costal region, i.e., 2 cm superior to the posterior superior iliac spine and about 3 cm lateral to the spine) was punctured and stimulated for about 1 min by using a filiform needle, once daily for 30 days except the weekends. The rats' learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze tasks. The expression of gap junction-related proteins connexin 43 (CX 43), CX 32 and CX 36 in the frontal cortex tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: After modeling, the postnatal rats' eye-open time on day 14, 15 and 16 was significantly later (P < 0.05); and the swimming ability on postnatal day 13 and 15 was obviously lower in comparison with that of the control group (P < 0.05). After acupuncture treatment, the increased escape latency and the decreased swimming velocity of the autism rats were obviously suppressed in the GV 1 group, rather than in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.05). It suggests an improvement of learning-memory ability after acupuncture stimulation of GV 1. In comparison with the control group, the expression levels of cerebral CX 43, CX 32 and CX 36 proteins (mean grey values) were considerably down-regulated in the model group (P < 0.05). While compared to the model group, their expression levels were apparently up-regulated in the GV 1 group (P < 0.05) but not in the non-acupoint group.

CONCLUSION: Acupuncture intervention of GV 1 can improve the learning- memory ability in autism rats, which may be closely related to its effects in up-regulating expression levels of CX 43, CX 32 and CX 36 in the frontal cortex.