Exploring the Effect of Moxibustion on Learning,Memory,and Hippocampal Inflammatory Cytokines in APP/PS1 Mice Based on the"Kidney-Brain Correlation"Theory

LIANG Yue; MEI Shuya; LEI Lu; ZHAO Yao; WANG Mengjing; LYU Peiran; LIU Qi; ZHANG Ning

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-3250.2025.10.017

Abstract：Objective To observe the effect of moxibustion at"Baihui(GV20)"and"Yongquan(KI1)"on learning and memory ability and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease(AD)mice,so as to explore its mechanism based on the theory of"kidney-brain correlation".Methods Twenty-four SPF APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into AD model and moxibustion groups,and 10 wild C57 mice were used as the blank control group.Moxibustion at"Baihui(GV20)"and"Yongquan(KI1)",5 days as a course,and 4 courses of treatment were required in total.After treatment,Morris water maze was used to detect the spatial learning and memory ability of mice in each group.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the cortical and hippocampal neurons(NEUN)and the expression of interleukin(IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in hippocampus.ELISA was used to detect hippocampal IL-1β and the content of TNF-α.Results Compared with the blank control group,the escape latency and average swimming distance of the AD model group were significantly increased(P<0.001),and the number of crossing the platform was decreased(P<0.001).The number of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus was significantly reduced(P<0.01).The expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in hippocampus were increased(P<0.05).The contents of IL-1β and TNF-α in the hippocampus both increased,but the difference was not statistically significant.Compared with the AD model group,(positioning navigation)the escape latency was significantly shortened(P<0.001),the average swimming distance was reduced,and the number of crossing the platform was increased in the moxibustion group after moxibustion treatment,but the difference has no statistical significance.The percentage of positive expression area of neuron marker NEUN in cortex and hippocampus increased significantly(P<0.01).The hippocampus IL-1β expression decreased significantly(P<0.01)and TNF-α expression decreased,but the difference was not statistically significant.The content of IL-1β in the hippocampus decreased significantly(P<0.05),and the content of TNF-α showed a decreasing trend,but the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion Moxibustion"Baihui(GV20)"and"Yongquan(KI1)"can reduce the positive expression and tissue contents of hippocampal inflammatory cytokines and also protect the cortex and hippocampal neurons,thereby improving the spatial learning and memory ability of AD mice.