Electroacupuncture At Ren Meridian Affects The Differentiation And Proliferation Of Neural Stem Cells Of Brain Ischemia Rats

Objective : This study was intended to explore the effects of electroacupuncture at Ren meridian on proliferation of neural stem cells in both sides of subrentricular zone and hippocampus of brain ischemia rats.Meanwhile, we analyzed how neural stem cells in the injured subrentricular zone differentiated and how astrocytes behaved in the hippocampus of brain ischemic rats in responding to electroacupuncture at Ren meridian.Methods;The middle cerebral artery of wistar rats were blocked for 2 hours, and then reperfused. The rats were divided into three groups at random, we observed the variety of neural stem cells in subrentricular zone and hippocampus respectively 7, 14, 28 days later after the operations were successful. Neurological deficit score in all groups were compared to estimate ischemic injury. Single and double immunohistochemical stainings were observed and counted by fluorescence microscope (Leica) and laser scanning confocal microscope(Olympus).Results: (1) In the 7 days group .there was no difference on Brdu immunofluorescence positive cells between Ren meridian group and control group((P>0.05). However, in the 14 and 28 days groups, the numbers of Brdu positive cells were much less than 7 days groups(P<0. 01), the numbers of Brdu positive cells of Ren meridian group were more than control groups(P<0. 01). (2)In the 7 days group ,compared with the control group, the number of and Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin, Brdu/Nse double-immunostaining of subrentricular zonein electroacupuncture at Ren meridian group were no significant difference (P>0. 05);However, in the 14 and 28 days groups, the number of and Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/Nse double-immunostaining cells were significantly increased as compared with the control groups(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). (3)In the 7 days group, compared with those in the control group, the differences between the numbers of GFAP/Nse double-immunostainings of hippocampus in electroacupuncture at Ren meridian group were of no statistical significance (P>0.05). However, in the 14 and 28 days groups, the number of GFAP/Nse double-immunostainings significantly increased compared with the control groups(P<0. 01).Conclution: Electroacupuncture at Ren meridian enhances the ability of differentiation and proliferation of neural stem cells in the subrentricular zone of brain ischemia rats . Electroacupuncture at Ren meridian could possibly adjust the astrocytes in the hippocampus of brain ischemia rats effectively, promoting their multi-potential characteristics in favor of the restoration of neural cells.