HeliyonMay 22, 2024

Electroacupuncture may prevent movement problems and gut lining damage by controlling intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Mar 7, 2026

Abstract

Electroacupuncture (EA) may alleviate depression and behavioral defects in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

EA upregulated the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
The treatment blocked the accumulation of α-synuclein in the midbrain of the model mice.
EA improved gut barrier integrity and suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Experiments with antibiotic-treated mice indicated that gut microbiota is critical in reducing PD dyskinesia and intestinal inflammation.
These findings suggest that EA could offer a protective effect against Parkinson's disease by addressing both motor dysfunction and gut health.

Simplified

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder commonly accompanied by gut dysfunction. EA has shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Here, we aim to explore whether EA can treat Parkinson's disease by restoring the intestinal barrier and modulating NLRP3 inflammasome. We applied 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to establish a PD mouse model and EA at the GV16, LR3, and ST36 for 12 consecutive days. The open-field test results indicated that EA alleviated depression and behavioral defects, upregulated the expressions of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and blocked the accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the midbrain. Moreover, EA blocked the damage to intestinal tissues of PD mice, indicative of suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation and increased gut barrier integrity. Notably, the antibiotic-treated mouse experiment validated that the gut microbiota was critical in alleviating PD dyskinesia and intestinal inflammation by EA. In conclusion, this study suggested that EA exhibited a protective effect against MPTP-induced PD by alleviating behavioral defects, reversing the block of motor dysfunction, and improving the gut barrier by modulating intestinal NLRP3 inflammasome. Above all, this study could provide novel insights into the pathogenesis and therapy of PD.

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Electroacupuncture may prevent movement problems and gut lining damage by controlling intestinal inflammation in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease

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