Background. Memory loss and cognitive impairment characterize the neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) is the key factor that triggers the course of AD, and reducing the deposition of Aβ in the brain has been considered as a potential target for the treatment of AD. In clinical and animal studies, electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for AD. In recent years, substantial evidence has accumulated suggesting the important role of the glymphatic system in Aβ clearance. Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore whether EA modifies the accumulation of Aβ through the glymphatic system and may thus be applied to alleviate cognitive impairments. Methods. Seven-month-old SAMP8 mice were randomized into a control group (Pc) and an electroacupuncture group (Pe). Age-matched SAMR1 mice were used as normal controls (Rc). Mice in the Pe group were stimulated on Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (GV29) for 10 min and then pricked at Shuigou (GV26) for ten times. EA treatment lasted for 8 weeks. In each week, EA would be applied once a day for the first five consecutive days and ceased at the remaining two days. After EA treatment, Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to evaluate the cognitive function; HE and Nissl staining was performed to observe the brain histomorphology; ELISA, contrast-enhanced MRI, and immunofluorescence were applied to explore the mechanisms underlying EA effects from Aβ accumulation, glymphatic system function, reactivity of astrocytes, and AQP4 polarization, respectively. Results. This EA regime could improve cognition and alleviate neuropathological damage to brain tissue. And EA treatment might reduce Aβ accumulation, enhance paravascular influx in the glymphatic system, inhibit the reactivity of astrocytes, and improve AQP4 polarity. Conclusion. EA treatment might reduce Aβ accumulation from the brain via improving clearance performance of the glymphatic system and thereby alleviating cognitive impairment.

中文翻译：

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电针通过 SAMP8 阿尔茨海默病小鼠模型中的淋巴系统改善淀粉样蛋白-β 的清除

背景。记忆力减退和认知障碍是神经退行性疾病阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 的特征。淀粉样蛋白-β（Aβ ）是引发AD病程的关键因素，减少Aβ在脑内的沉积已被认为是治疗AD的潜在靶点。在临床和动物研究中，电针 (EA) 已被证明是治疗 AD 的有效方法。近年来，大量证据表明淋巴系统在 A β清除中的重要作用。客观。本研究的目的是探讨 EA 是否会改变 A β的积累通过glymphatic系统，因此可用于减轻认知障碍。方法. 将 7 个月大的 SAMP8 小鼠随机分为对照组 (Pc) 和电针组 (Pe)。年龄匹配的 SAMR1 小鼠用作正常对照（Rc）。Pe组小鼠用百会（GV20）和印堂（GV29）刺激10分钟，然后在水沟（GV26）处刺10次。EA治疗持续了8周。每周，EA 将连续前五天每天应用一次，其余两天停止。电针治疗后，采用莫里斯水迷宫（MWM）试验评估认知功能；HE和Nissl染色观察脑组织形态学；应用 ELISA、对比增强 MRI 和免疫荧光来探索 A β的 EA 效应的潜在机制积累、淋巴系统功能、星形胶质细胞的反应性和 AQP4 极化，分别。结果。这种 EA 方案可以改善认知并减轻对脑组织的神经病理学损伤。电针治疗可能会减少 A β的积累，增强淋巴系统中的血管旁内流，抑制星形胶质细胞的反应性，并改善 AQP4 极性。结论。EA 治疗可能通过改善淋巴系统的清除性能来减少大脑中A β的积累，从而减轻认知障碍。