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OBJECTIVE: The senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) is an autogenic senile model characterized by early cognitive impairment and age-related deterioration of learning and memory.The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive treatment effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) on cognitive changes and brain damage in SAMP8 mice.METHODS: Thirty male 5-month-old SAMP8 and ten age-matched homologous normal aging SAMR1 mice were employed in this study.EA stimulation at Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) was performed every other day for 12 weeks,4 weeks as a course.Mice were submitted to Morris water maze test for evaluating cognitive impairments.The brain slices were Nissl-stained with cresyl violet for morphometric analysis.The expression of Amyloid-β (Aβ) was detected by immunohistochemistry as well as apoptosis was observed by TUNEL staining.RESULTS: After three courses of EA preventive treatment,the escape latency of 8-month-old SAMP8 mice in EA group were significantly shortened than 8-month-old SAMP8 mice.Compared with SAMR1 mice,extensive neuronal changes were visualized in the CA1 area of hippocampus in SAMP8 mice.EA preventive treatment could markedly reduce these pathological changes and attenuate cell loss in hippocampal CA1 area of SAMP8 mice.Furthermore,results revealed that EA could decrease or delay the expression of Aβ in hippocampus and parietal cortex,and decrease neuronal apoptosis.CONCLUSION: The present findings demonstrated that EA at Baihui (GV20) and Yintang (EX-HN3) significantly improved cognitive deficits and neuropathological changes in SAMP8 mice,and this effect was at least in part,due to reducing brain neuronal damage,decreasing neuronal apoptosis and inhibiting Aβ-containing aggregates.