The Mechanism Of Electroacupuncture On The Neural Regeneration In Cerebral Ischemia Rats

Objective: In China,Acupuncture has a long history,its effectiveness in patients with stroke has been confirmed by a large number of clinical trials.however,the molecular mechanisms of Acupuncture promoting neural regeneration after stroke is not entirely clear. In this experiment,we used electro-acupuncture treating the focal cerebral ischemic rats,then observed the behavior changes by neurologic deficit score and muscle strength test;Through morphological methods,observed the GAP-43,BDNF,TrkB,and Rho kinase expression around the area of ischemic cerebral cortex in different time points after ischemic.This study aimed to explore the mechanism of acupuncture on neural regeneration after cerebral ischemia.Methods: 90 healthy adult male SD rats,were randomly divided into sham-operation group,cerebral ischemia group (control group),and the electro-acupuncture therapy group(EA group),30 rats in each group.Rats of control group and EA group were made MCAO model.Rats of EA group were treated by electric acupuncture at 2h after modeling.We selected "baihui","quchi"as stimulating points for treating 20min,once a day.Then observed the rats'Longa score and muscle strength at 6h,3d,7d,14d,21d after cerebral ischemia,meanwhile observed the expression of GAP-43,Rho Kinase,BDEF,TrkB in brain tissues at corresponding time by immunofluorescent staining and RT-PCR methods.Results: The neurological score of EA group rats was decreased than the cerebral ischemia group at 21th days (P<0.01).The muscle than the cerebral ischemia group at 21th days(P < 0.01).Compared with the ischemia group,the number of GAP-43,BDNF,TrkB positive cell were significantly increased and Rho Kinase's mRNA content was significantly decreased in EA group (P<0.01).Conclusions: Electroacupuncture can upregulate the expression of GAP-43,BDNF,TrkB and downregulate the expression of Rho Kinase,promote axonal regeneration,improve neurological function.