针刺涌泉、重灸百会对局灶性脑缺血大鼠VEGF表达的影响

Influence of Acupuncture at Yongquan(KI 1)and Moxibustion at Baihui(GV 20)on VEGF Expression in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia

目的探讨针刺对缺血性脑卒中的作用机制。方法将雄性Wistar大鼠40只,随机分为模型组和针灸组,每组20只。以线栓法闭塞大脑中动脉(middle cerebral artery occlusion,MCAO)制作局灶脑缺血再灌注损伤模型。采用免疫组织化学染色SABC法检测缺血脑组织血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)蛋白表达,RT-PCR法检测缺血脑组织VEGF mRNA表达,TTC染色测定脑梗死面积。结果脑组织VEGF mRNA表达与模型组相比,针灸组缺血半暗带区VEGF mRNA表达明显增强,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);脑组织VEGF蛋白表达与模型组相比,针灸组VEGF蛋白表达明显增强,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);模型大鼠的脑组织出现大面积梗死灶,与正常组比较,差异明显(P<0.01);与模型组比较,针灸组脑梗死面积明显缩小,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论针刺涌泉、重灸百会能显著增强脑组织VEGF蛋白及VEGF mRNA表达,促进缺血半暗带区血管生成,这可能是针灸治疗脑缺血的作用机制之一。

Objective To explore the mechanism of action of acupuncture on ischemic cerebral stroke. Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to model and acupuncture-moxibustion groups, 20 rats each. A model of focal cerebral isehemia and reperfusion injury was made by thread-occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） protein in the ischemic brain tissue was examined by immunohistochemical staining with the SABC method. The expression of VEGF mRNA in the ischemic brain tissue was examined by RT-PCR. The area of cerebral infarction was measured by TTC staining. Results Cerebral VEGF mRNA expression in the ischemic penumbra increased obviously in the acupuncture- moxibustion group compared with the model group and there was a significant difference （P〈0.05）. Cerebral VEGF protein expression increased obviously in the acupuncture-moxibustion group compared with the model group and there was a significant difference （P〈0.05）. A large area of cerebral infarction occurred in the brain tissue of the model group and there was a significant difference compared with the normal group （P^0.01）. The area of cerebral infarction was obviously reduced in the acupuncture-moxibustion group compared with the model group and there was a significant difference （P〈~0.01）. Conclusion Acupuncture at Yongquan（KI 1） and moxibustion at Baihui（GV 20） can significantly increase VEGF protein and VEGF mRNA expressions in the brain tissue and promote angiogenesis in the ischemic penumbra, which my be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for cerebral ischemia.