Effect Of Acupuncture At Zusanli On Expressions Of HIF-1α And VEGF In Rat Brains After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Objective Intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) is a common and often fatal stroke subtype, to which an increasing number of people are paying close attention because of its high morbility, mortality and mutilation rate. However, currently there is no medical therapy available for those patients except blood pressure reduction and neurosurgical evacuation of the hematoma. The Zusanli (ST36) is the He-sea acupoint of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming(ST). Clinical and experimental studies on ICH by acupunctrue at the Zusanli are focused on aspects of inhibiting the apoptosis of neurons and promoting neurological functional recovery. To investigate the mechanisms of acupunctrue at the Zusanli (ST36), the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-la (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were observed in damaged region of rats'brains after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Methods The ICH models were established by injecting collagenase typeⅦ0.5U stereotaxically into right globus pallidus in rats. Animals were randomly divided into four groups:sham-operation (SO), ICH+NA (EA therapy on non-acupoint), ICH and ICH+EA group (EA therapy on Zusanli). The same volume of saline was given to the SO group. The spatial distribution and protein expression of HIF-la and VEGF in each group were observed by immunohistochemistry on day3,7and14 after modeling. In the meantime, the dynamic changes of VEGF and HIF-la mRNA expressions in all groups were assayed by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results No significant expression of HIF-la and VEGF in the Sham-operative group was found during the experiment. In ICH, ICH+NA and ICH+EA groups, many VEGF immunoreactive microvessels of the dilated outline were detected in the perihematomal tissue from 3 days, and the vessels extended into the clot from the surrounding area at about 7 days, then appeared in the clot thereafter. HIF-la protein level significantly increased from 3 days, then began to decline. The expression of VEGF protein in ICH group increased gradually from day 3 to day 14. But ICH+EA group of HIF-la and VEGF protein expression were significantly higher than that in ICH group at the corresponding time points(P<0.01). There was no statistic significance between ICH+NA and ICH groups.HIF-1αmRNA levels were unchanged in SO, ICH+NA, ICH and ICH+EA group. There was no obvious expression of VEGF mRNA in rat brains of sham-operates groups. The VEGF mRNA expression in ICH group increased gradually from day 3 to day 14, ICH+EA group was significantly higher than ICH group at the corresponding time points(P<0.05). There was no statistic significance between ICH+NA and ICH groups.Conclusions The acupuncture zusanli therapy promote VEGF expression in brain of intracerebral hemorrhagic rats, which may accelerate the angiogenesis in the reconstruction of microvascular network in the damaged zone, and facilitate the repair of damaged tissue.