Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Learning and Memory and Improves Synaptic Plasticity via Activation of the PKA/CREB Signaling Pathway in Cerebral Hypoperfusion

Figure 4

Significant signs of neuronal loss were absent in hippocampus in experimental rats from the five groups. Photomicrographs of toluidine blue-stained sections from control group (a and a1), model group (b and b1), EA group (c and c1), EA+H89 group (d and d1), and EA+NS group (e and e1). (a–e) 40x, scale bar = 500 m. (a1–e1) 400x, scale bar = 50 m. Significant signs of neuronal loss were absent based on the overall observation of hippocampus in experimental rats from the five groups. Several damaged neurons (black arrows) in CA1 pyramidal cell layer were observed. (f) Quantitative analysis of pyramidal cell viability in CA1 pyramidal cell layer was not significantly different neither among the control rats, the model rats, and the EA rats (control: , model: , and EA: ; = 3.075, ; and per group) nor between the EA+H89 rats and the EA+NS rats (EA+H89: , EA+NS: ; = −0.336, ; and per group). Each value represents mean ± SEM.