| Objective: To explore the effect of acupuncture on the neurofunction and the mechanism of acupuncture promoting the spinal cord plasticity at molecular level.Methods: The model of bilateral dorsal root ganglionectomy [L1-L4 DRG (dorsal root ganglion)were sectioned, but L5 was spared] was established in rat. Zusanli-xuanzhong and futu-sanyinjiao, known to lie in L5 dermatome, were acupunctured everyday. The pairs of acupuncture points were alternately stimulated. Then the neurofunction including the latencies of N1 of CSEP and BBB scores at 1 week, 2 week, 3 week, 4 week following acupuncture and before operation was evaluated so that we could identify the effect of acupuncture on injuried spinal cord. Meanwhile we analyzed changes of gene expression spectrum with 59 gene microarrays at 1 day post acupuncture (dpa), 7 dpa and 14 dpa in order to explore the mechanism of acupuncture promoting the plasicity of spinal cord at molecular level.Results: The data showed that Nl wave latencies for CSEP in acupunctured side were shorter than those in nonacupunctured side.The value of BBB scores was significantly increased in acupunctured side, compared with that in nonacupunctured side. Microarray data displayed that the numbers of up-regulated gene were respectively 1, 4 and 2 at 1dpa, 7 dpa and 14 dpa. Only on 7 dpa did the down-regulated gene appear 7 points.Conclusion: Acupuncture could improve neurofunction of hind limbs of rats subjected to spinal cord injury and stimulate the expression of many genes to promote... |
PDF Full Text Request