Transcriptomic Changes Associated with Electroacupuncture in a DMCAO Model of Delayed Cognitive Impairment

作者：Liyue Lu, Wei Song, Shichun Li, Chenlong Xie, Huashun Cui, Jiangang Song, Yongqiang Wang, Yue Yong · 发表于：Current Neurovascular Research · 年份：2026 · DOI：10.2174/0115672026451292260213073458 · 研究领域：Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies、Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments、Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

INTRODUCTION: Delayed Cognitive Impairment (DCIS) occurs in approximately 31% to 77% of individuals following stroke. Clinical findings have indicated that electroacupuncture may alleviate post-stroke DCIS. However, insights derived from animal models remain limited. The present study utilized a Distal Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (DMCAO) mouse model to investigate the potential mechanisms of electroacupuncture through hippocampal transcriptomic analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male BALB/c mice were subjected to DMCAO and received electroacupuncture treatment. High-throughput RNA sequencing of hippocampal tissue was performed to identify Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs). Enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, hierarchical clustering, and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis, were performed to elucidate potential biological mechanisms. RESULTS: The DMCAO model exhibited features consistent with DCIS. Electroacupuncture treatment was associated with improved cognitive performance and enhanced hippocampal neuroplasticity. A total of 116 DEGs were identified in the DMCAO group compared with the sham group, while 69 DEGs were identified in the DMCAO+ electroacupuncture group compared with the untreated DMCAO group. DISCUSSION: GO enrichment analysis indicated that electroacupuncture modulated biological processes related to nerve fibers, axonal development, neuronal regulation...