Objective: To investigate the underlying neurobiological mechanism of the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI-R). Methods: In the first part of the study, 15 SD rats w...Objective: To investigate the underlying neurobiological mechanism of the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI-R). Methods: In the first part of the study, 15 SD rats were evenly randomized into control group, CI-R-48h model group and CI-R-48h+EA group. The cortical apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in each group were detected by flow cytometer (FCM). In the second part of the study, 75 SD rats were evenly randomized into control, CI-R-3min, CI-R-3min+EA, CI-R-48h and CI-R-48h+EA groups. Cortical norepinephrine (NE) concentration was detected by fluorescence spectrometer. CI-R model was established by occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries and reperfusion. EA (4～16 Hz, 1～3 V) was applied to “Shuigou”(水沟 GV 26) and “Chengjiang”(承浆 CV 24) for 30 min before CI and after reperfusion respectively. Results: In the first part of this study, results indicated that the number of the apoptotic neurons and the apoptosis rate of CI-R-48h group were significantly higher than those of control group; while comparison between CI-R-48h+EA and CI-R-48h groups showed that the number of the apoptotic neurons and the apoptosis rate of the former group were significantly lower than those of the later group (P<0.05). In comparison with control group, after CI-48h, Bax expression was up-regulated significantly and Bcl-2 down-regulated markedly (P<0.05). Comparison between CI-R-48h and CI-R-48h+EA group indicated that Bax expression of the later group was significantly lower than that of the former group, while Bcl-2 expression of CI-R-48h+EA group was significantly higher than that of CI-R-48h group (P<0.05), suggesting that EA could reverse CI induced reactions of these two indexes. In the second part of the study, in comparison with control group, NE concentration in cerebral cortex of CI-R-3min group increased significantly (P<0.05); while NE content of CI-R-3min+EA group was significantly lower than that of CI-R-3min group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between CI-R-3min group and control group in cortical NE levels; and no significant changes were found about NE levels in CI-R-48h and CI-R-48h+EA groups, suggesting that EA could inhibit the increase of cortical NE level in the early stage of CI. Conclusion: Changes of NE concentration in the cerebral cortex during the earlier period of CI-R is possibly related to the incidence of cortical apoptosis. EA can reduce the increase of NE due to CI and thus may inhibit CI-induced cortical apoptosis.展开更多
文摘Objective: To investigate the underlying neurobiological mechanism of the protective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI-R). Methods: In the first part of the study, 15 SD rats were evenly randomized into control group, CI-R-48h model group and CI-R-48h+EA group. The cortical apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in each group were detected by flow cytometer (FCM). In the second part of the study, 75 SD rats were evenly randomized into control, CI-R-3min, CI-R-3min+EA, CI-R-48h and CI-R-48h+EA groups. Cortical norepinephrine (NE) concentration was detected by fluorescence spectrometer. CI-R model was established by occlusion of the bilateral common carotid arteries and reperfusion. EA (4～16 Hz, 1～3 V) was applied to “Shuigou”(水沟 GV 26) and “Chengjiang”(承浆 CV 24) for 30 min before CI and after reperfusion respectively. Results: In the first part of this study, results indicated that the number of the apoptotic neurons and the apoptosis rate of CI-R-48h group were significantly higher than those of control group; while comparison between CI-R-48h+EA and CI-R-48h groups showed that the number of the apoptotic neurons and the apoptosis rate of the former group were significantly lower than those of the later group (P<0.05). In comparison with control group, after CI-48h, Bax expression was up-regulated significantly and Bcl-2 down-regulated markedly (P<0.05). Comparison between CI-R-48h and CI-R-48h+EA group indicated that Bax expression of the later group was significantly lower than that of the former group, while Bcl-2 expression of CI-R-48h+EA group was significantly higher than that of CI-R-48h group (P<0.05), suggesting that EA could reverse CI induced reactions of these two indexes. In the second part of the study, in comparison with control group, NE concentration in cerebral cortex of CI-R-3min group increased significantly (P<0.05); while NE content of CI-R-3min+EA group was significantly lower than that of CI-R-3min group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between CI-R-3min group and control group in cortical NE levels; and no significant changes were found about NE levels in CI-R-48h and CI-R-48h+EA groups, suggesting that EA could inhibit the increase of cortical NE level in the early stage of CI. Conclusion: Changes of NE concentration in the cerebral cortex during the earlier period of CI-R is possibly related to the incidence of cortical apoptosis. EA can reduce the increase of NE due to CI and thus may inhibit CI-induced cortical apoptosis.
