Effect Of Acupuncture On Neuron And Microvascular In Ischemia Penumbra Of Cerebral Infarct Rats

Purpose: To study the changes of neuronal ultrastructure and microvascular count in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra between the acupuncture-treated group and untreated group rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). and provide useful morphological information for clinical treatment of acupuncture after MCAO.Method: MCAO model was reproduced by intraluminal thread approach with Sprague-Daley(SD) male rats, and randomly divided into three groups: the acupuncture-treated group(treated with electra-acupuncture) , untreated group(MCAO model control group) and sham-operation control group. The model was evaluated by the score standard of neural function deficient degree, MRI technique and TTC staining. Changes of neuronal ultrastructure and microvascular count (MVC) in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra were observed with light microscope and electron microscope by the end of 1 d, 7 d and 14 d after modeling. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11.0.Results1 Untreated group: tissue structure in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra were deranged and neurons was arranged loose, cell skeleton clouding under light microscope after HE staining. Neurons were edema .Chromatin were coagulated to block or lysis and mitochondrion were swelling, presenting a big blank region, crystal deformed, even breaked or disappeared under transmission electron microscope.2 Acupuncture-treated group: tissue structure in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra was clearly on the whole and neurons were arranged compactly, cell skeleton clearly, but some neurons were edema scatterly under light microscope after HEstaining. Most of neurons were clear, and chromatin were well-distributed; mitochondrion were plenty and clear, but some were edema gently, presenting spherical shape, a few crista breaked or disappeared under transmission electron microscope.3 Significant difference of microvascular count between acupunctured-treated group and untreated group was found in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra (P<0.01), the former was much higher than the latter.4 Significant difference of microvascular count among acupunctured-treated group was found in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra, the 14 day group was much higher than the 7 day group ( P<0.01), and the 7 day group was also much higher than the 1 day group ( PO.01).Conclusion1 Acupuncture treatment may have an angiogenesis effect on cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra in cerebral infarct rats, which can ameliorate microvascular supply and collateral circulation, recover blood supply and improve cerebral ischemia.2 Acupuncture treatment may have a recovering effect on neuronal ultrastructure caused by cerebral ischemia in cortex of parietal lobe and hippocampus ischemia penumbra of cerebral infarct rats.3 Acupuncture was an effective treatment on cerebral ischemia by protecting neuronal ultrastructure, accelerating angiogenesis and reconstructing collateral circulation.