Influence Of Acupuncture On The Expressions Of HSP70 And INOS In Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Of Rats

Chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a common disease resulting in paraplegia and quadriplegia among the middle and the aged. It is a refractory disease and make some patients lose the ability of labor and life. Surgical decompression is a main measure of treatment for chronic spinal cord injury. It could significantly lighten clinical symptoms, but there were not satisfactory curative effect for the secondary injury so far. Many clinical practices and studies have shown acupuncture could improve the malfunction of sense and motor or other complications. It could mitigate muscle spasm pain, and also improve the function of bladder or rectum. It is an effective method on treating SCI.But the study of the mechanisms of acupuncture treating chronic spinal cord injury is in the early stage today. The mechanisms of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment remain uncertain. To study the mechanisms of electro-acupuncture on chronic spinal cord injury of rats, a model of chronic spinal cord injury was made. The expressions of heat shock protein70 (HSP70) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were observed through imrnunohistochemistry method.Forty rats were randomly allocated to a model group including 30 rats and a control group including 10 rats (that is, A group). The model group received moderate chronic progressive compression within 8 weeks, then that were randomly allocated to one of three groups including 10 rats each: B group received a sustained compression; and C group received decompression; D group received EA treatment. Clinical neurological function was assessed with combined behavioral score (CBS). At 11 weeks after injuried, all animals were sacrificed, and histopathological changes were observed, and the expressions of HSP70 and iNOS on the session of the rat spinal cord was examined with immumohistochemical method.Results (1) X-ray revealed the vertebral canal encroachment rate was 30%-60% after 8 weeks. Each animal in the model group developed clinical signs of myelopathy. CBS in C and D groups showed a consistent trend toward improved function, and the mean CBS for the D group was significantly better than for the C group (PO.05). (2)HSP70 and iNOS immunohistochemistry showed, After spinal cord injury, HSP70 and iNOS expressions increased in the neurons. HSP70 was further enhanced and iNOS was diminished in the electro-acupuncture groups. Meanwhile, CBS was improved, too. There were significant differences between the groups of electro-acupuncture and decompression (P<0.05).Conclusions (1) The animal model in this study, which accuratelyrepresented the disease process of chronic compressive myelopathy (CCM), is an ideal chronic progressive compressive spinal cord injury animal model. (2) HSP70 and iNOS expressions increased after Chronic spinal cord injury and decreased after decompression. (3) HSP70 was further enhanced resulting from electro-acupuncture, which was negative for the expression of iNOS. It could relieve the secondary spinal cord injury and protect the neuron and promote behavioral function recovery of experimental animals. (4) We suggest that HSP70 take part in the treatment of electro-acupuncture. Electro-acupuncture facilitates the repairs of the spinal cord injuried.