Objective To observe the effect of scalp-acupuncture intervention on the expression of Bcl-2of astrocytes in the hippocampus in vascular dementia(VD)rats

so as to reveal its underlying mechanism in improving VD.Methods A total of40 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

sham-operation

VD model

and scalp-acupuncture groups(n=10in each group).The VD model was established by using modified Pulsinelli 4-vessel-occlusion method.Scalp-acupuncture was applied to bilateral"Daozang Shangjiao"and bilateral"Jiyi"

and"Siwei"acupoints according to FANG's scalp-acupuncture therapy for 30 min

once daily for 10 days.The rat's learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze tests

and the expression of apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2of astrocytes in the hippocampus was detected by immunofluorescence double labeling technique and Western blot

respectively.Results Morris water maze tests showed that the average escape latency of place navigation test and the duration of the first platform-site crossover(space probing test)were significantly increased in the model group compared with the normal control group(P<0.01)

and the number of platform-site crossovers in 2min was markedly decreased in the model group(P<0.01).The increased average escape latency and the increased duration of first platform-site crossover were markedly shortened in the scalp-acupuncture group in comparison with the model group(P<0.01)

and the number of the platform crossovers in 2min was significantly increased in the scalp-acupuncture group(P<0.01).The expression of Bcl-2protein and the number of GFAP/Bcl-2-labeled cells of hippocampal CA 1region in the model group were remarkably decreased compared with the normal control group(P<0.01).After scalp-acupuncture intervention

the decreased Bcl-2protein expression level and the number of double-labeled GFAP/Bcl-2cells were significantly up-regulated in the scalp-acupuncture group compared with the model group(P<0.01).No significant differences were found between the normal control and sham-operation groups in the escape latency

duration of the first platform-site crossover

number of platform crossovers in 2 min

number of GFAP/Bcl-2double labeled cells and the expression level of hippocampal Bcl-2protein(P>0.05).Conclusion Scalp-acupuncture can effectively regulate the expression of apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2of astrocytes in the CA 1region of hippocampus in rats with VD

which may contribute to its effect in the improvement of VD.