Tian Huiling, Ding Ning, Guo Mengwei, Wang Shun, Wang Zidong, Liu Hao, Yang Jiayi, Li Yujie, Ren Jingyu, Jiang Jing, Li Zhigang
School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science.
J Vis Exp. 2019 Oct 29(152). doi: 10.3791/60055.
A Morris water maze (MWM) experiment forces experimental animals to swim and learn to find a platform hidden in the water. It is widely used in scientific research to assess the learning and memory of animals. Due to the extensive use of the MWM test, visual experimental protocols are essential for researchers. This manuscript uses the latest studies to introduce the protocol of the MWM test. Alzheimer' Disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. An alternative and complementary treatment used for AD is Manual Acupuncture (MA). To assess the learning and memory ability of AD model mice, the MWM test was conducted. The visible platform trial, hidden platform trial, probe trial, and reversal trial of MWM were used to evaluate spatial learning and memory ability. In the visible platform trial, the swimming speed and escape latency of mice in different groups was not significantly different. In the hidden platform and reversal trials, the AD group showed a long escape latency. The escape latency decreased significantly after the MA treatment. Low platform crossover number and the proportion of time in the SW quadrant in the probe trial increased after the MA treatment (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The results of the MWM tests suggest that MA can effectively improve the spatial learning and memory abilities of AD model mice. Rigorous experimental operations provided assurance of the reliability of the results.
莫里斯水迷宫（MWM）实验迫使实验动物在水中游泳并学习找到隐藏在水中的平台。它在科学研究中被广泛用于评估动物的学习和记忆能力。由于MWM测试的广泛应用，可视化实验方案对研究人员至关重要。本手稿利用最新研究介绍了MWM测试的方案。阿尔茨海默病（AD）的特征是记忆力和认知功能逐渐丧失。用于AD的一种替代和补充治疗方法是手动针刺（MA）。为了评估AD模型小鼠的学习和记忆能力，进行了MWM测试。MWM的可见平台试验、隐藏平台试验、探索试验和反转试验用于评估空间学习和记忆能力。在可见平台试验中，不同组小鼠的游泳速度和逃避潜伏期没有显著差异。在隐藏平台试验和反转试验中，AD组的逃避潜伏期较长。MA治疗后逃避潜伏期显著缩短。MA治疗后，探索试验中低平台穿越次数和在西南象限的时间比例增加（p<0.05或p<0.01）。MWM测试结果表明，MA可以有效提高AD模型小鼠的空间学习和记忆能力。严格的实验操作保证了结果的可靠性。
