The Expression Of AQP₄ And That Of The Correlative Gene Of Apoptosis In Ischemic Penumbra In Rats After Acute Cerebral Ischemia And The Effect Of Electro-Nape Acupuncture Therapy

Objective:To observe the expression of AQP₄ and that of the correlative gene of apoptosis in ischemic penumbra in rats after acute cerebral infarction and to explore the effect and the possible mechanism of electro-nape acupuncture therapy.Methods:The model of focal cerebral ischemia was made by blocking the middle cerebral artery with monofilament in rats. The middle cerebral artery occlussion rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham group(group A),model group(group B),electro-acupuncture group(group C) and electro-nape acupuncture group(group D).The neural function was evaluated with Bederson's score.The pathological change was observed by optical microscope.The expression of AQP4 and that of the correlative gene of apoptosis in ischemic penumbra was observed by immunohistochemistry method.The brain water content was calculated according to dry weight and wet weight.The changes of neuron ultrastructure in ischemic penumbra were observed by transmission scanning electron microscope.Results:1.Compared with group B, the difference among group C and group D was significant at 3d and at 5d in the assessment of nervous function(P<0.05, P<0.01).2.It was observed that both blood vessel and glial cell proliferated in the ischemic penumbra. It was more dominant in group D than that in group C at different time.3.Compared with group B, the expression of AQP₄ in ischemic penumbra signifficantly decreased in group C and in group D at 1d, 2d,3d and at 5d(P<0.05, P<0.01).There was also signifficant difference between group C and group D at 3d and at 5d(P<0.05).4.Compared with group B, the water content of rat brain obviously decreased in group C and in group D at 2d,3d and at 5d(P<0.01). There was also signifficant difference between group C and group D at 3d and at 5d(P<0.05).5.Compared with group B, the expression of caspase-3 obviously decreased in group C and in group D at 1d,2d,3d and at 5d(P<0.05, P<0.01).There was also signifficant difference between group C and group D at 3d and at 5d(P<0.05).6.Compared with group B, the expression of bcl-2 obviously increased in group C and in group D at different time(P<0.01). There was also signifficant difference between group C and group D at 3d and at 5d(P<0.01, P<0.05).7.Compared with group B, the quantity of synaps in ischemic penumbra was obviously increased in group C and in group D at 3d and at 5d(P<0.01).There was also signifficant difference between group C and group D at 5d(P<0.05).8.Compared with group B, the neuron ultrastructure was mended in group C and in group D.It was more dominant in group D than that in group C.Conclusions:The study proved that the mechanism of electro-nape acupuncture therapy was multiple. It had relations with improving the nervous function, proliferating blood vessel and glial cell in ischemic penumbra, reducing the ischemic damage, mending the neuron ultrastructure, increasing the quantity of synaps, reducing the water content of brain, decreasing the expression of AQP₄ and caspase-3, promoting the expression of bcl-2,etc.