Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of bilateral"Hegu"(LI 4)and "Taichong"(LR 3

the so-called"Four Gate Points")on learning-memory ability

hippocampal interleukin-1(IL-1)βand IL-2and amyloidβ(Aβ)42levels in Alzheimer's disease(AD)rats

so as to reveal its underlying mechanism in improving AD.Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation

model

medication and acupuncture groups(n=12rats in each group).The AD model was created by microinjection of streptozotocin(10μL

3mg/kg)into the lateral ventricle(repeated the microinjection once two days later).Bilateral LR 3and LI 4were punctured with filiform needles and stimulated manually

once a day

6days a week for 4weeks.The rats of the medication group were intragastric perfusion of Donepezil HCl(0.45mg/kg)

once a day for 4weeks.The learning-memory ability was detected by Morris water maze swimming tests.The immunoactivity of hippocampal Aβ42was detected by immunohistochemistry

and the contents of IL-1βand IL-2in the hippocampus tissue were determined by ELISA.Results After modeling

the average escape latency of Morris water navigation task was significantly increased

and the target-platform crossing times of space probe trials were significantly reduced in the model group(P<0.05)

suggesting a lowering of learning-memory ability.After acupuncture intervention

the increased escape latency and the decreased target-platform crossing times were reversed

suggesting an improvement of the learning-memory.The hippocampal Aβ42immunoactivity and IL-1βcontent were significantly higher in the model group than in the sham operation group(P<0.05)

but the hippocampal IL-2content was markedly decreased in the model group(P<0.05).Following the interventions

the increased Aβ42expression and IL-1βcontents

and the decreased IL-2contents in the hippocampus were also reversed in both the acupuncture and medication groups(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture may improve learning-memory ability in AD rats

which may be associated with its effects in reducing hippocampal Aβ42expression and IL-1βcontent and in up-regulating IL-2level.