Comparing the Effects of Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture at Zusanli and Baihui on Cell Proliferation and Neuroblast Differentiation in the Rat Hippocampus

In Koo HWANG; Jin Young CHUNG; Dae Young YOO; Sun Shin YI; Hwa Young YOUN; Je Kyung SEONG; Yeo Sung YOON

doi:10.1292/jvms.09-0374

Anatomy

Comparing the Effects of Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture at Zusanli and Baihui on Cell Proliferation and Neuroblast Differentiation in the Rat Hippocampus

In Koo HWANG, Jin Young CHUNG, Dae Young YOO, Sun Shin YI, Hwa Young YOUN, Je Kyung SEONG, Yeo Sung YOON

Author information

In Koo HWANG
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
Jin Young CHUNG
Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University
Dae Young YOO
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
Sun Shin YI
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Marquette University
Hwa Young YOUN
Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University
Je Kyung SEONG
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University
Yeo Sung YOON
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University

Keywords: acupuncture, cell proliferation, electroacupuncture, neuroblast differentiation, Wistar rat

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2010 Volume 72 Issue 3 Pages 279-284

DOI https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.09-0374

View "Advance Publication" version (December 1, 2009).

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Abstract

We compared the effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation using specific markers, Ki67 and doublecortin (DCX), in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus (SZDG) in 13-week old Wistar rats. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture were applied simultaneously in the acu-points, ST36 (Zusanli) and GV20 (Baihui), once a day for 3 weeks. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture at these acu-points significantly increased the number of Ki67-positive cells and DCX-immunoreactive neuroblasts compared to the control or sham acupuncture group. Electroacupuncture treatment significantly increased the number of well-developed (tertiary) dendrites in the SZDG compared to acupuncture treatment. These results suggest that both acupuncture and electroacupuncture increase neurogenesis in the normal, but that electroacupuncture has greater effects on neuroblast plasticity than acupuncture in the dentate gyrus.

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