Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on p 130 expression in neocortex and hippocampus of Senescence Accelerated Mouse/Prone (SAMP) 10 so as to explore its underlying molecular mechanism in treating dementia and aging-related diseases. Methods Thirty SAMP 10 were randomly divided into model

acupuncture

and non-acupoint groups with 10 cases in each

and 10 SAM/Resistant (SAMR)1 were used as normal control group. The needle manipulation of "Yi Qi Tiao Xue

Fu Ben Pei Yuan" (Reinforcing qi and blood

and strengthening the body resistance) was applied to "Shanzhong" (CV 17)

"Zhongwan" (CV 12)

"Qihai" (CV 16)

"Xuehai" (SP 10) and "Zusanli" (ST 36)

once daily for two weeks. p 130 expression of neocortex and hippocampus was assayed by western blotting technique. Results In SAMR 1 control group

p 130 expression in the neocortex and hippocampus exhibited an age-related stable upregulation from month 2 to 12

being significantly from the 6th month (neocortex) on and 8th month (hippocampus) on respectively (P<0.05

0.01). In SAMP 10 group

hippocampal and neo-cortical p 130 expression exhibited an age-related downregulation change in the same period

fluctuating in about 6th month (downregulated remarkably in hippocampus

P<0.01; upregulated markedly in neocortex

P<0.01). In comparison with SAMR 1 (8 months old) group

p 130 expression in hippocampus in SAMP 10 model group was upregulated significantly (P<0.05); while that in neocortex downregulated considerably (P<0.05). The expression of p 130 in neocortex in acupoint-acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in SAMP 10 model and non-acupoint acupuncture groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between acupoint-and non-acupoint acupuncture groups in hippocampal p 130 expression

and between non-acupoint acupuncture and SAMP 10 model groups in neocortical p 130 expression (P>0.05). Conclusion Along with the increase of aging

p 130 expression in both hippocampus and neocortex increases gradually in SAMR 1

while decreases in SAMP 10

in spite of fluctuating at month 6 in age. Acupuncture can beneficially regulate the aberrant expression of p 130 in neocortex of 8-month-old SAMP 10.