Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40144798›Full record

ArticleIBRO neuroscience reports2025

Electroacupuncture mitigates cognitive impairments in chronic hypoxia-induced mice by modulating neuroinflammation.

Fang Wan, Kun Zhuang, Ziyu Li, Xiaoqing Wang, Wenyan Li, Yunlong Hou, Wanhui You, Yibing Jiang, Mingye Wang, Pengyu Zhu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in IBRO neuroscience reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Fang WanInternational Acupuncture and Moxibustion Innovation Institute, School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Kun ZhuangDongguan Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Dongguan 523819, China.
Ziyu LiSuzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, China.
Xiaoqing WangChinese Medicine Research Institute, Chengde Medical University, Chengde 067000, China.
Wenyan LiHebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Yunlong HouNational Key Laboratory for Innovation and Transformation of Luobing Theory, Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shijiazhuang 050000, China.
Wanhui YouDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China.
Yibing JiangHeilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Mingye WangHebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.
Pengyu ZhuThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study investigates the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive impairment induced by chronic hypoxia (CH) in mice. Chronic hypoxia was simulated by exposing mice to a 10 % oxygen environment for 8 hours daily over 3 months. The cognitive functions of the mice were assessed through behavioral tests, including the open field test (OFT), Y-maze, and Morris water maze (MWM). Results showed that CH induced significant anxiety-like behaviors and memory impairments in mice. EA treatment, targeting the Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24), and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints, significantly ameliorated these behavioral deficits. Histological analyses using HE staining, Nissl staining, and TUNEL assays demonstrated that EA reduced neuronal damage, apoptosis, and myelin loss in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Additionally, EA treatment significantly lowered the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in brain tissues, suggesting its anti-inflammatory effects. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses revealed that EA inhibited the overactivation of microglia and astrocytes in the CH model. Specifically, EA suppressed the expression of Iba1 and GFAP, markers of microglial and astrocytic activation, respectively. Furthermore, EA promoted the polarization of microglia towards the M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype by downregulating iNOS and upregulating Arg1. Similarly, EA reduced the expression of C3, a marker of A1 astrocytes, thereby preventing astrocytic polarization towards the pro-inflammatory state. Organotypic brain slice cultures subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) confirmed that electrical stimulation, akin to EA, inhibited the activation of microglia and astrocytes under hypoxic conditions. In conclusion, EA improves cognitive function in CH-induced mice by reducing neuroinflammation, inhibiting glial cell overactivation, and promoting anti-inflammatory phenotypes. These findings highlight EA's potential as a therapeutic intervention for cognitive impairments related to chronic hypoxia.

Indexed as

Astroglial PolarizationChronic HypoxiaElectroacupunctureMicroglial PolarizationNeuroinflammation

Identifiers

PMID40144798
PMCPMC11937942

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.