Abstract:

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture（EA）combined with repetitive tran⁃ scranial magnetic stimulation（rTMS）on spatial learning and memory ability，postsynaptic dense zone，microglia and neuroinflammatory factors in rats with Alzheimer′s disease（AD）. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal group，model group，electroacupuncture group，repetitive transcranial magnetic group and electroacu⁃ puncture + transcranial magnetic group. AD model rats were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of D ⁃galactose. The electroacupuncture（EA）group was given electroacupuncture stimulation for 20 min/times. The repetitive tran⁃ scranial magnetic（rTMS）group was given 10 pulses per string，10 strings of stimuli per day. The EA+rTMS group was given magnetic stimulation after electroacupuncture treatment，with the same methods and parameters as in the electroacupuncture and the repetitive transcranial magnetic groups. After 2 weeks of intervention，Morris water maze test，transmission electron microscope collection and analysis，immunohistochemical experiment，Western ⁃ blot test and data statistical analysis were carried out. Results Compared with the model group，the escape latency in each intervention group was shorter（P < 0.01），the time in the target quadrant was significantly prolonged （P < 0.01），the thickness of postsynaptic dense zone in each intervention group was significantly larger（P < 0.01）， the activated microglia and the expression of TNF⁃α，IL⁃6 and IL⁃1β protein in each intervention group were signif⁃ icantly decreased（P < 0.01）. Compared with the EA+rTMS group，was significantly longer and the time of target quadrant exploration was significantly shorter（P < 0.01），the thick⁃ ness of postsynaptic dense zone in the EA and rTMS groups was significantly decreased（P < 0.01），the activated microglia in the electroacupuncture group and repeated transcranial magnetic group was significantly increased （P < 0.05），and the protein expression of TNF⁃ α，IL⁃6 and IL⁃1 β were significantly increased（P < 0.01）. Conclusion EA combined with rTMS can effectively improve the learning and memory ability of AD ⁃like model rats，probably by inhibiting neuroinflammatory reaction and reducing synaptic injury of neurons in mechanism. 

Key words:

repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, Alzheimer′ s disease, learning and memory ability, postsynaptic dense zone, microglia, inflammatory factors