Table_1_Electroacupuncture stimulation improves cognitive ability and regulates metabolic disorders in Alzheimer’s disease model mice: new insights from brown adipose tissue thermogenesis.docx

BackgroundMetabolic defects play a crucial role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) development. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been identified as a novel potential therapeutic target for AD due to its unique role in energy metabolism. Electroacupuncture (EA) shows promise in improving cognitive ability and brain glucose metabolism in AD, but its effects on peripheral and central metabolism are unclear.
MethodsIn this study, SAMP8 mice (AD model) received EA stimulation at specific acupoints. Cognitive abilities were evaluated using the Morris water maze test, while neuronal morphology and tau pathology were assessed through Nissl staining and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Metabolic variations and BAT thermogenesis were measured using ELISA, HE staining, Western blotting, and infrared thermal imaging.
ResultsCompared to SAMR1 mice, SAMP8 mice showed impaired cognitive ability, neuronal damage, disrupted thermoregulation, and metabolic disorders with low BAT activity. Both the EA and DD groups improved cognitive ability and decreased tau phosphorylation (p<0.01 or p<0.05). However, only the EA group had a significant effect on metabolic disorders and BAT thermogenesis (p<0.01 or p<0.05), while the DD group did not.
ConclusionThese findings indicate that EA not only improves the cognitive ability of SAMP8 mice, but also effectively regulates peripheral and central metabolic disorders, with this effect being significantly related to the activation of BAT thermogenesis.

背景 代谢缺陷在阿尔茨海默病（AD）的发生发展中发挥关键作用。棕色脂肪组织（BAT）因其在能量代谢中的独特功能，被认定为AD极具潜力的新型治疗靶点。电针疗法（EA）在改善AD患者认知能力与脑葡萄糖代谢方面展现出应用前景，但其对机体外周与中枢代谢的调控效应尚不明确。
方法 本研究以AD造模小鼠SAMP8为研究对象，对其施加特定穴位的电针刺激。采用莫里斯水迷宫实验（Morris water maze test）评估小鼠认知能力，分别通过尼氏染色（Nissl staining）与免疫荧光染色（immunofluorescence staining）观察神经元形态与tau蛋白病理变化。借助酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）、苏木精-伊红染色（HE staining）、蛋白质印迹法（Western blotting）以及红外热成像技术，检测代谢变化与BAT产热功能。
结果 与SAMR1小鼠相比，SAMP8小鼠表现出认知功能受损、神经元损伤、体温调节紊乱以及BAT活性低下所致的代谢异常。电针组与DD组均可改善小鼠认知能力，并降低tau蛋白磷酸化水平（p<0.01或p<0.05）。但仅电针组对代谢紊乱与BAT产热功能具有显著调控效应（p<0.01或p<0.05），DD组则无此效果。
结论 本研究结果表明，电针疗法不仅可改善SAMP8小鼠的认知功能，还能有效调控机体外周与中枢代谢紊乱，且该调控效应与BAT产热功能的激活显著相关。