الفهرس 
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Abstract
The aim of the present work was to Study the effect of electroacupuncture on memory and learning in D-galactose induced rat brain aging and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
This was carried out by investigating the brain oxidative stress markers,inflammatory markers, hippocampal structural changes, hypophysial adrenal axis in D-galactose induced rat brain aging and the changes occur with electroacupuncture.
Forty male albino rats were used (age 2 - 3 months, each weighing 160-200g). The rats were divided into the following groups:
I) Non treated group (C) (n=10 rats).
II) Electroacupuncture-treated group (CE) (n=10 rats).
III) D-galactose treated group (D) (n=10 rats).
IV) Electroacupuncture and D-galactose cotreated group (DE). (n=10 rats).
In each of the previously mentioned groups spatial learning and memory performance were assessed by Banes maze test, the extent of neuronal damage in the hippocampus was evaluated with histological and morphometric assessment and the extent of brain oxidative stress biomarkers including MDA, GSH activity and inflammatory marker as TNFα activity in the brain tissue homogenate and serum ACTH and cortisone were also measured.
The results showed that D-galactose caused significant increase in mean number of errors and mean of escape latency per day in days 1-4 of acquisition phase and day 5 of probe phase of Barnes maze test denoted significant impairment in spatial learning and short-term memory performance when compared to (C) group. It also caused significant increase in MDA, TNFα and significant decline in GSH activity in brain tissue homogenate but significant increase serum ACTH and cortisone when compared to (C) group.
The histopathological and morphometric findings showed significant damage in hippocampus of D-galactose treated rats.
In electroacupuncture and D-galactose cotreated group (DE) caused significant decline in mean number of errors and mean of escape latency per day in days 1-4 of acquisition phase and day 5 of probe phase of Barnes maze test denoted significant improvement in spatial learning and memory performance when compared to (D) group. (DE) caused significant decline in hippocampal damage or protected it from damage when compared to (D) group. They also caused significant decline in MDA, TNFα and significant elevation in GSH activity in brain tissue homogenate but decreased serum ACTH and cortisone when compared to (D) group.
It was clear that D-galactose caused significant spatial learning and memory impairment due to oxidative stress that led to hippocampal damage and all treatments had antioxidant effect that combated the oxidative stress induced by D-galactose and
Summary
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thereby Electroacupuncture protected the hippocampus from damage so the spatial learning and memory performance in treated groups was better than(D)group.