Study On The Effect Of Acupuncture On Rat Gastrocnemius Atrophy And Expression Of NGF MRNA After Injury To The Sciatic Nerve

Study on the effect of acupuncture on rat gastrocnemius atrophy and expression of NGF mRNA after injury to the sciatic nerveObjective:To investigate the delaying effect of acupuncture on SD rats gastrocnemius atrophy after injury to the sciatic nerve.To investigate that acupuncture has effect on improving the neural regeneration after sciatic nerve injury and to study the mechanism.Methods:Seventy-two SD rats were selected and a model of gastrocnemius denervation was set up.The rats were randomly allocated to electro-acupuncture group 1(injury +5 Hz electro-acupuncture),electro-acupuncture group 2(injury+100 Hz electro-acupuncture), acupuncture group(injury +acupuncture),and control group(simple injury as control).Gastrocnemius wet weight,the diameter and cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius cells,and changes in gastrocnemius fibrillation potential amplitude were observed in 1,2 and 6 weeks after rats operated on injury of the sciatic nerve.And at 1,2 and 6 weeks after operation the rats were killed and the sciatic nerve stump just distal to the crush site were removed to evaluate the level of NGF mRNA.NGF mRNA was expressed by means of in situ hybridization and the level was determined by imaging analysis.Results:In all groups the recovery rate of gastrocnemius wet weight was descented in 1,2 and 6 weeks after rats operated on injury of the sciatic nerve.And the descent of control group was the most significant in all groups.The descent of electro-acupuncture group 1 was the least in all groups.The recovery rate of gastrocnemius wet weight was of electro-acupuncture group 1 was significant increased compared with the control groups at above-mentioned time points(p＜0.01).The diameter and cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius cells of electro-acupuncture group 1 and electro-acupuncture group 2 was markedly more than that of control groups(p＜0.05).The gastrocnemius fibrillation potential amplitude was descented in 1,2 and 6 weeks after rats operated on injury of the sciatic nerve in all groups.But the gastrocnemius fibrillation potential amplitude of electro-acupuncture group 1 and electro-acupuncture group 2 as well as acupuncture group was significant increased compared with the control groups at above-mentioned time points (p＜0.01).The level of NGF mRNA in the normal sciatic nerve is very low.But the level of NGF mRNA was significant increased after rats operated on injury of the sciatic nerve.And the level of NGF mRNA of electro-acupuncture group 1 was the most high in all groups.Conclusion:The treatment of all acupuncture groups can improve rats gastrocnemius atrophy.But treatment with 5 Hz electro-acupuncture can significantly delaied the SD rats gastrocnemius atrophy in 1,2 and 6 weeks after rats operated on injury of the sciatic nerve.And treatment with 5Hz electro-acupuncture can also significantly increased the expression of NGF mRNA of rat sciatic nerve and improve the regeneration of sciatic nerve in 1,2 and 6 weeks after injury of the sciatic nerve.