The Experimental Research On Neuroprotective Mechanism Of Acupuncture Method In Focal Cerebral Ischemic Rats

The Experimental Research on Neuroprotective Mechanism of Acupuncture Method in Focal Cerebral Ischemic RatsObjective: To observe the inflammatory reaction and morphologic changes in ischemic brain tissue, related changes of cytokine and adhesion molecule,and the effect of acupuncture method on focal cerebral ischemia in ratsMethods: (1) Use photochemical method inducing one-side middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats to make focal cerebral ischemia experimental model. (2) Use Neuroethological index to compare the symptoms of pretreatment and post-treatment, and thereby work out the statistical estimation. (3) Use morphologic method to observe the inflammatory reaction in ischemic brain tissue,especially the phenomena of adhesiveness and infiltration of the inflammatory cells. (4) Use hemorrheologic indexes, erythrocyte deformation and Erythrocyte aggregation to observe the intervention of acupuncture. (5) Use radioimmunoassay method to assay the levels of the IL-1β and TNF-α in the ischemic brain tissues and the blood serum. (6) Use enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to observe the expressions of TGF-βl, ICAM-I in ischemic penumbra, which are used to analyze the effect of acupuncture method.Results: (1)After acute cerebral ischemia,the inflammatory cell adhered and infiltrated to penumbra of the ischemic cortex,and this phenomenon aggravated as the ischemia continued. After treated by acupuncture,the necrosis areas reduced and the degree of the adhesiveness and infiltration of the inflammatory cells also decreased. (2) After acute cerebral ischemia, the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α in the ischemic brain tissues and the levels of theTNF-αin blood serum increased significantly,which can be decreased by acupuncture significantly.(3)After ischemia, TNF-αexpression level in ischemic cortex neurons and ICAM-l expression level in vascular endothelial cells increased. Acupuncture can decrease the expression of TNF-αand ICAM-l.Conclusion:Acupuncture method can regulate the expression of cytokine and adhesion molecule in ischemic penumbra by influencing the contents of cytokines in brain tissues and blood serum, and thereby reduce the inflammatory reaction ,improve the degree of thrombo-fibrinolysis , protect function of cranial nerve when cerebral ischemia takes place.To sum up, acupuncture method can effectively improve the necrosis degree of the penumbra area in focal cerebral ischemia rats, relieve pathomorphological changes of cerebral infarction focus, improve microcirculation and collateral circulation, increase cerebral blood flow, improve energymetabolism, alleviate injury of neurons induced by hypoxia and hypoglycemia, prevent lesions of free radical and NO, decrease intracellular Ca2+ and ICAM-1 expression, This research provided experimental foundation to go deep into studying the acupuncture method.