Electroacupuncture improves cerebral blood flow in vascular cognitive impairment mice by activating the locus coeruleus − prefrontal cortex circuit

The locus coeruleus (LC) − prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuit is critical for maintaining cognitive function. Our previous studies have shown that acupuncture effectively improves cognitive function in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). However, the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating VCI, especially its effect on neural circuits, remain poorly understood. Using a bilateral common carotid artery stenosis model in mice, we showed that electroacupuncture (EA) significantly improved cerebral blood flow (CBF) and working memory in VCI mice, which may be associated with an increase in norepinephrine concentration in the PFC and heightened neuronal activity in both the PFC and the LC. Additionally, activation of the LC-PFC circuit via chemogenetic manipulation mimicked the effects of EA on improving CBF in VCI mice. Conversely, inhibiting the LC-PFC circuit blocked the therapeutic effects of EA. In summary, our findings suggest that activation of the LC-PFC circuit may be a key mechanism through which EA alleviates CBF and working memory impairment in VCI.