# Electroacupuncture alleviates cognitive impairment in mice with vascular dementia by regulating the cholinergic vasodilation system

## TL;DR

Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function in mice with vascular dementia by enhancing a brain pathway that controls blood vessel dilation.

## Contribution

This study identifies the cholinergic vasodilation system as a novel mechanism through which electroacupuncture alleviates vascular dementia symptoms.

## Key findings

- EA improved cognitive function and dilated cerebral arterioles in VaD mice.
- EA increased acetylcholine and NO levels via upregulation of the ACh/NO pathway.
- The m-1AChR antagonist partially reversed EA's effects, suggesting its key role in the mechanism.

## Abstract

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a potential and reliable treatment for vascular dementia (VaD). This study aims to explore the mechanism of EA in the treatment of VaD based on neurovascular coupling.

The VaD model was established by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). Mice received EA at Baihui (GV20), Geshu (BL17), and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints for 7 days. Then, behavioral tests, leptomeningeal microvascular observation, immunofluorescence of basal forebrain neurons, and molecular analyses of the ACh/NO pathway were conducted.

EA stimulation alleviated cognitive impairment in VaD mice, dilated leptomeningeal arterioles, enhanced neuronal activity and acetylcholine expression in the basal forebrain, and increased the levels of m-1AChR, α-7-nAChR, eNOS, and NO in the frontal cortex. The m-1AChR antagonist (THP), but not the α-7-nAChR antagonist (MLA), partially reversed these regulatory effects of EA.

EA dilates cerebral arterioles by up-regulating the ACh/NO pathway within cholinergic vasodilation system, thereby alleviating cognitive impairment induced by VaD.

Electroacupuncture dilates cerebral arterioles by up-regulating the ACh/NO pathway within cholinergic vasodilation system, thereby alleviating cognitive impairment induced by vascular dementia. This image was made by figdraw.com. ACh, acetylcholine; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; NO, nitric oxide.Diagram illustrating the ACh/NO cholinergic vasodilation pathway showing electroacupuncture applied to a mouse model with bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, cholinergic neuron activation from the basal forebrain, acetylcholine projections, muscarinic receptor binding, increased eNOS and NO production, and arteriole dilation.

Electroacupuncture dilates cerebral arterioles by up-regulating the ACh/NO pathway within cholinergic vasodilation system, thereby alleviating cognitive impairment induced by vascular dementia. This image was made by figdraw.com. ACh, acetylcholine; eNOS, endothelial nitric oxide synthase; NO, nitric oxide.