Acupuncture alleviates neuro-inflammatory injury in rats with cognitive impairment induced by Parkinson's disease based on cGAS-STING signaling pathway.

Objectives: To observe the effect of acupuncture on neuro-inflammation in rats with cognitive impairment induced by Parkinson's disease (PD) based on the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway.

Methods: SD rats were randomly grouped into sham operation, model, acupuncture, acupuncture+empty and acupuncture+cGAS over-expression groups, with 12 rats in each group. The PD model was established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 8 μg/rat) into the substantia nigra pars compacta of the left midbrain (AP:-5.