| Objectives: To observe the morphologic changes and inflammatory reaction of rat model of acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion at 6h and 24h after reperfusion, the changes of the contents of cytokines--TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-10 in the circulating blood and brain tissue, and the influence of application of electro-acupuncture on acu-points 'Zusanli', 'Baihui',"Shuigou" for the above said indexes. The purpose is to study the regulatory function of acupuncture therapy upon immune disorders at different time points in rat model of acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and the regulating mechanism of acupuncture therapy, thereby deepening the understanding of function and mechanisms of acupuncture in treatment of acute ischaemic stroke. Methods: (1) Occlude middle cerebral artery of rat by suture method for creating the model of acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (MCAO); (2) Observe neuron ischaemic necrosis of brain tissue, inflammatory immune response changes, inflammatory cell adhesion and infiltration by hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE);(3) Adopt radioimmunoassay method to detect the content of TNF-α and IL-10 in ischaemic brain tissues and serum; (4) Adopt radioimmunoassay method to detect the content of IL-6 in ischaemic brain tissues and sera. Results: (1)In the early stage of acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (1-24h), degeneration and necrosis of neuron, accumulation, adhesion and infiltration of inflammatory cell occurred. The scope and extent of brain tissue necrosis expanded and deteriorated with progressing of disease and continuing of inflammatory reaction. Electro- acupuncture is able to reduce the inflammatory cell adhesions and infiltrations, and alleviate inflammatory immunoreactions and neuron necrosis. (2)TNF-α expression level in circulating peripheral blood and brain tissue significantly increased after the cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and it tends to rise with the progression of diseases in the inflammatory reaction stage (24 h). Electro- acupuncture can help to reduce the content of TNF-α in ischaemic brain tissues and sera at different reperfusion time points, especially significant in down regulation of TNF-α at 24 h after ischemia and reperfusion.(3) The content level of IL-6 and IL-10 in ischaemic brain tissues and sera gradually increased with the extension of ischemia- reperfusion time. Electro- acupuncture contributes to the releases of IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood as well as IL-10 in brain tissue, and its up-regulation is significant at 6h following ischemia -reperfusion. Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture treatment may enhance functional activities of anti-inflammatory cytokines and reduce the expression of the inflammatory cell cytokines in a certain scope to inhibit inflammatory cell accumulation and activation as well as releases of cell toxic substances, thereby oppressing the delayed neuronal damages, ameliorating the microcirculation, and promoting brain blood supply, contributing to the recovery of neural function. To sum up, Electro- acupuncture is able to effectively harmony the networks of various cytokines to weaken the inflammatory immunoreaction induced by the cytokines, thereby alleviating the cerebral ischemia -reperfusion damages, which is one of the most important mechanisms (paths) of acupuncture to treat ischemic cerebral vascular diseases. |
