基于海马为关键节点的葡萄糖代谢连接网络探讨电针改善AD学习记忆的作用机制

研究证实，电针“百会”“神庭”穴可激活海马等脑区葡萄糖代谢水平改善阿尔茨海默症（AD）学习记忆功能。以海马为关键节点的葡萄糖代谢连接网络异常是AD学习记忆功能下降的关键因素。因此，我们推测电针“百会”、“神庭”穴可以调控AD以海马为关键节点的葡萄糖代谢连接网络进而改善其学习记忆功能。本课题拟以6月龄APP/PS1转基因AD小鼠为研究对象，采用行为学测试和小动物PET成像，结合葡萄糖代谢连接脑网络分析，观察电针对AD学习记忆和海马为关键节点的葡萄糖代谢连接网络整体水平的影响；通过海马为关键节点的葡萄糖代谢连接矩阵分析和图论分析，观察网络内脑区之间连接强度和网络拓扑属性的变化，明确电针对该网络信息传递能力的影响；在此基础上，检测网络内差异性脑区葡萄糖代谢相关蛋白表达水平，并与网络拓扑属性进行相关性分析。研究结果将为电针促进AD学习记忆功能康复的临床应用提供部分实验证据。

It has proven that electroacupuncture at Baihui(DU20) and Shenting(DU24) could improve the learning and memory function of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) via increasing the glucose metabolism level in hippocampus. The dysfunction of the glucose metabolic connectivity network with the key node of hippocampus plays a key role in learning and memory dysfunction of AD. Therefore, the study would propose a hypothesis that electroacupuncture at DU20 and DU24 could regulate the glucose metabolic connectivity network with the key node of hippocampus to improve the learning and memory function of AD. In the study, 6-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic mice would be employed. Bevioral test, animal PET and analysis method of glucose metabolic connectivity network would be used to define the effect of electroacupuncture on the learning and memory function, and the overall network level of the glucose metabolic connectivity network with the key node of hippocampus in AD. Then, analysis method of glucose metabolic connectivity matrix with the key node of hippocampus and graph theory would be used to explore the connectivity strength between paired brain regions and topology properties of the network, which would reflect the effect of electroacupuncture on the information transmission capability of the network. Furthermore, the proteins related to glucose metabolism in the changed regions of the network would be detected. The correlation between the expression level of the proteins and the network topology properties would be assessed. The results will provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of electroacupuncture in improving the learning and memory of AD.