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Electron Microscope Reveals Acupuncture Helps Find Courses

Alzheimer’s Patients
 15 June 2014
Acupuncture Interests
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Electron microscopy reveals that acupuncture and moxibustion protect Alzheimer’s

disease patients’ brain cells. Published in Neural Regeneration Research, laboratory
experiment findings identified major brain structures that are preserved by using
electroacupuncture and moxibustion. The research team documented a powerful
neuroprotective effect induced by electroacupuncture including specific beneficial
changes in brain chemistry. 
Acupuncture is the insertion of
needles used to induce physiologic
responses and moxibustion is the
burning of herbs near the skin to
produce a warming effect.
Moxibustion is often used to enhance
the micro-circulation of blood to local
regions of the body, especially over
acupuncture points. In this study,
acupuncture was applied to
acupuncture points GV20 (Baihui) and
BL23 (Shenshu) on laboratory rats
with induced Alzheimer’s disease
pathology. The brains were examined
with electron microscopy which
revealed that rats treated with
electroacupuncture had a preserved structure of a part of the brain called the
hippocampus. The researchers note that “neuronal cell injury was markedly reduced”
as a result of acupuncture. The control group that received no acupuncture or
moxibustion showed enormous damage to the hippocampus.
Examination using a transmission electron microscope showed that
electroacupuncture and moxibustion benefitted the biochemistry of the brain.
Electroacupuncture and moxibustion successfully downregulated axin protein
expression and upregulated beta-catenin protein expression. This was true for all
three treatment groups: electroacupuncture only, moxibustion only and a thrid
electroacupuncture combined with moxibustion group.
The electroacupuncture and moxibustion treatments were given prior to the onset of
the pathology. The neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture and moxibustion
are associated with treatment prior to the onset of brain damage, pretreatment. This
supports the use of acupuncture and moxibustion as preventative medicine. The
research team reports, “The present study demonstrates that electroacupuncture
pretreatment has a neuroprotective function in the hippocampus, suggesting that
this technique could be used to protect learning and memory functions, and prevent
senile dementia.” They added that in the hippocampus “neuronal cell injury was
markedly reduced in all three pretreatment groups; organelles were visible in the
cytoplasm, and chromatin appeared normal.” 
Research

The impetus for the investigation was the publication of prior research
demonstrating that acupuncture point BL23 “improves impaired learning and
memory.” Additional research was cited demonstrating that acupuncture at GV20
and BL23 “regulate acetylcholinesterase activity, elevate cortical excitability and
cerebral blood flow, improve cerebral circulation, protect against free radical
oxidation and neurotoxic injury, suppress inflammation and cell apoptosis, improve
learning and memory functions, and effectively treat senile dementia.” The research
team also cited an experiment demonstrating moxibustion as an effective modality
for preventing and treating senile dementia.
The current study demonstrates that electroacupuncture and moxibustion protect
the ultrastructure of the hippocampus. The research team notes that the study is of
high quality in that it is easily repeatable, has exact parameters and scientifically
demonstrates the same results in every repeated investigation. They added that the
best results identified in the study were achieved by combining electroacupuncture
with moxibustion. They noted, “The combination of moxibustion and
electroacupuncture obtained a better neuroprotective effect than either technique
alone….” 
How Acupuncture Works
The research team postulated how acupuncture exerts a neuroprotective effect on
the brain. Both electroacupuncture and moxibustion regulate axin and beta-catenin
in the brain. The proteins interact with each other and are an integral part of Wnt
signaling pathways, a group of signal transduction pathways composed of proteins
that signal from outside a cell to it interior. The researchers note, “We therefore
propose that the mechanisms of action underlying the potential benefits of
acupuncture and moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s
disease involve the regulation of Wnt signaling via alterations in axin and β-catenin
expression.” The researchers state that electroacupuncture and moxibustion
stimulate a homeostatic response to axin and beta-catenin protein expression
thereby activating a Wnt signaling pathway that helps protect brain cells by
regulating communication through cell walls.
The research documents specific structures of the brain that are protected by
acupuncture and moxibustion in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings
suggest that patients who are predisposed to the disease or show signs of its onset
will benefit greatly from preventative acupuncture treatments. The researchers did
not outline specific protocols for treatment but cited numerous studies showing that
BL23 and GV20 are effective acupuncture points. The team translated the biomedical
research on these points into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) differential
diagnosis concepts. They note that BL23 and GV20 active to “replenish the kidney
essence and marrow, and promote resuscitation.”
References:
Zhou, H., G. Sun, L. Kong, Y. Du, F. Shen, S. Wang, B. Chen, and X. Zeng. "Acupuncture
and moxibustion reduces neuronal edema in Alzheimer's disease rats." Neural
Regeneration Research 9, no. 9 (2014): 968.
Burchett SA (2000) Regulators of G Protein Signaling. J Neurochem 75:1335-1351.
Luo L, Sun GJ, Du YJ (2013) Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on energy
metabolism-related protein of hippocampai neuron mitochondria in Alzheimer’s
disease rats. Zhongguo Zhenjiu 33:913-918.
Cui L, Sun G, Zhou H, Du Y (2009) Influence of pre-stimulation with acupuncture and
moxibustion on learning and memory ability and the activity of SOD, NOS in
hippocampal area of Alzheimer disease model rats. Hubei Zhongyi Xueyuan Xuebao
3:6-8.
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Electron Microscope Reveals Acupuncture Helps Alzheimer’s Patients

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