针刺结合疲劳转棒训练改善pMCAO大鼠运动和认知功能

Improvements of motor and cognitive functions in the rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion treated with acupuncture and rota-rod training

目的:探讨针刺靳三针头穴结合疲劳转棒康复训练对永久性大脑中动脉闭塞(permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion,pMCAO)大鼠运动功能和认知功能恢复的影响。方法:将38只雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组,假手术组11只,模型组13只,治疗组14只。采用电凝法建立右侧永久性大脑中动脉闭塞模型。于造模后第1天,治疗组针刺"智三针""颞三针""脑三针",并进行疲劳转棒训练,每日针1次,训练3次。假手术组及模型组仅在治疗组针刺时进行空抓固定,其余时刻不做其他处理。连续干预6 d休息1 d,共干预3周。造模后,每组于第1天各取3只进行脑切片TTC染色观察脑缺血情况,第1至7天进行神经功能评分,第1、7、14、21天进行爪印分析和疲劳转棒测试,第22至26天进行水迷宫实验。结果:与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠存在明显脑缺血,神经功能评分升高,左侧足心距离在第1、7、14天升高,疲劳转棒转速在4个时间点均下降,定位航行中潜伏期均升高,空间探索中原平台象限Q3的活动时间百分比下降(P<0.01,P<0.05)。与模型组比较,治疗组大鼠脑缺血面积差异不明显(P>0.05),神经功能评分在第6天下降,左侧足心距离在第14天下降,疲劳转棒转速在第14、21天升高,定位航行中潜伏期在第23至25天下降,空间探索中原平台象限Q3的活动时间百分比升高(P<0.01,P<0.05)。结论:针刺靳三针头穴结合疲劳转棒康复训练能够改善pMCAO大鼠的行为学表现,促进其运动功能和认知功能的恢复。

Objective To explore the effects on the recovery of the motor and cognitive functions of the rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion(pMCAO) after treated with Jin’s three-needle acupuncture at head acupoints combined with rota-rod training. Methods A total of 38 male SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, named a sham-operation group(11 rats), a model group(13 rats) and a treatment group(14 rats). The electrocoagulation method was adopted to establish the model of pMCAO on the right cerebrum. Starting from the 1 st day after successful modeling, acupuncture was applied to the "three points of intelligence", the "three points of temporal area" and the "three points of brain". Additionally, the rota-rod training was used. Acupuncture was given once a day and the training was three times a day. In the sham-operation group and the model group, empty grasp fixation was performed when acupuncture was applied in the treatment group, and there was no intervention at the rest of the time. There was 1 day of interval after consecutive 6 days of intervention. Totally, the intervention was for 3 weeks. After modeling, the brain section was collected from 3 rats of each group on the 1 st day and was stained with TTC to observe the condition of cerebral ischemia. From day 1 to 7, the neurological function score was evaluated. The footprint analysis and rota-rod test were performed on day 1, 7, 14 and 21. The Morris water maze test was performed from day 22 to 26. Results Compared with the sham-operation group, cerebral ischemia presented obviously, the score of neurological function was increased, the back front distances on the left were increased on day 1, 7 and 14 separately, the revolutions per minute(RPM) of the rota-rod were reduced at each of the above 4 time points, the latency of navigation trial was increased and the movement time percentage in Q3 quadrant of spatial probe trial was reduced in the model group(P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the area of cerebral ischemia was not obviously different(P>0.05), the score of neurological function was reduced on day 6, the back front distance on the left was reduced on day 14, RPM of the rota-rod were increased on day 14 and 21, the latency of navigation trial were reduced from day 23 to 25 and the movement time percentage in Q3 quadrant of spatial probe trial was increased in the treatment group(P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion Jin’s three-needle acupuncture at head acupoints combined with rota-rod training improve the behavioral performance of pMCAO rats and promote the recovery of motor and cognitive functions.