Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the effect of moxibustion at Governor Vessel (GV) acupoints, including Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24) and Dazhui (GV 14) for 14 days on glial vascular unit (GVU) in rats with multiple microinfarctions (MMI), and to explore its action mechanism.MethodsThe effect...

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Main Authors: Jingji Wang, Kunrui Du, Chang Liu, Xiaoyu Chen, Wenming Ban, Guoqi Zhu, Jun Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1428907/full
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author Jingji Wang
Jingji Wang
Kunrui Du
Chang Liu
Xiaoyu Chen
Wenming Ban
Guoqi Zhu
Jun Yang
Jun Yang
author_facet Jingji Wang
Jingji Wang
Kunrui Du
Chang Liu
Xiaoyu Chen
Wenming Ban
Guoqi Zhu
Jun Yang
Jun Yang
author_sort Jingji Wang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the effect of moxibustion at Governor Vessel (GV) acupoints, including Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24) and Dazhui (GV 14) for 14 days on glial vascular unit (GVU) in rats with multiple microinfarctions (MMI), and to explore its action mechanism.MethodsThe effect and mechanism of moxibustion on vascular dementia (VD) were studied in MMI rats by means of behavioral and molecular biology experiments.ResultsRats receiving MMI showed impairment of memory function, reduction of cerebral blood flow, damage of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and increased brain mass. MMI also increased neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus. Notably, levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and complement component 3 significantly increased, but those of Connexin43 (CX43) and platelet derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) significantly decreased in the hippocampus of the rats receiving MMI. Moxibustion, as well as oxiracetam (ORC) treatment improved memory function and neuronal degeneration, ameliorated BBB integrity, increased cerebral blood flow and decreased brain mass. In addition, moxibustion as well as oxiracetam (ORC) treatment reduced the decrease of CX43 protein and increased PDGFRβ protein level in the hippocampus of MMI rats. Moreover, moxibustion treatment reversed MMI-induced increase of the GFAP/CX43 ratio in vascular structural units. Importantly, after PDGFRβ inhibition, VD rats treated with moxibustion had impaired learning and memory, decreased cerebral blood flow, and BBB disruption.ConclusionMoxibustion treatment at various GV acupoints improved cerebral blood flow and repaired BBB function in rats with MMI, likely through protecting GVU.
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spelling doaj-art-ab5802a7742d49648db36a3b3749d75b2025-08-20T02:08:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-10-011510.3389/fphar.2024.14289071428907Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairingJingji Wang0Jingji Wang1Kunrui Du2Chang Liu3Xiaoyu Chen4Wenming Ban5Guoqi Zhu6Jun Yang7Jun Yang8Center for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaAcupuncture and Moxibustion Clinical Medical Research Center of Anhui Province, The Second Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaCenter for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaCenter for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaCenter for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Taihe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuyang, ChinaCenter for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaCenter for Xin’an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaThe First Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, ChinaObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the effect of moxibustion at Governor Vessel (GV) acupoints, including Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24) and Dazhui (GV 14) for 14 days on glial vascular unit (GVU) in rats with multiple microinfarctions (MMI), and to explore its action mechanism.MethodsThe effect and mechanism of moxibustion on vascular dementia (VD) were studied in MMI rats by means of behavioral and molecular biology experiments.ResultsRats receiving MMI showed impairment of memory function, reduction of cerebral blood flow, damage of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and increased brain mass. MMI also increased neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus. Notably, levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and complement component 3 significantly increased, but those of Connexin43 (CX43) and platelet derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) significantly decreased in the hippocampus of the rats receiving MMI. Moxibustion, as well as oxiracetam (ORC) treatment improved memory function and neuronal degeneration, ameliorated BBB integrity, increased cerebral blood flow and decreased brain mass. In addition, moxibustion as well as oxiracetam (ORC) treatment reduced the decrease of CX43 protein and increased PDGFRβ protein level in the hippocampus of MMI rats. Moreover, moxibustion treatment reversed MMI-induced increase of the GFAP/CX43 ratio in vascular structural units. Importantly, after PDGFRβ inhibition, VD rats treated with moxibustion had impaired learning and memory, decreased cerebral blood flow, and BBB disruption.ConclusionMoxibustion treatment at various GV acupoints improved cerebral blood flow and repaired BBB function in rats with MMI, likely through protecting GVU.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1428907/fullmoxibustionvascular dementiaglial vascular unitastrocyteglial fibrillary acidic proteinCX43
spellingShingle Jingji Wang
Jingji Wang
Kunrui Du
Chang Liu
Xiaoyu Chen
Wenming Ban
Guoqi Zhu
Jun Yang
Jun Yang
Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
Frontiers in Pharmacology
moxibustion
vascular dementia
glial vascular unit
astrocyte
glial fibrillary acidic protein
CX43
title Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
title_full Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
title_fullStr Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
title_short Exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
title_sort exploring the effects of moxibustion on cognitive function in rats with multiple cerebral infarctions from the perspective of glial vascular unit repairing
topic moxibustion
vascular dementia
glial vascular unit
astrocyte
glial fibrillary acidic protein
CX43
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1428907/full
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