Electroacupuncture On Ren And Du Vessels On Inflammatory Reaction In Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Rats

ObjectiveThe increasing incidence of cerebral ischemia burdens the whole world, mechanisms of it remain to be determined. Acupuncture has been a traditional therapy in clinical treatment for stroke, still much needs to be done to illustrate the mechanism of it. Therefore, the present study was designed, mainly from the perspective of inflammatory reaction, to investigate the underlying neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats.MethodsIn total,216 rats were randomly assigned to four groups, sham operation group (S), model group (M), Du vessel group (D), as well as Ren and Du vessels group (RD). Each group was further divided into six subgroups of 12,24,48, 72,96, and 144 h after reperfusion time. We established MCAO model in accordance with Longa method, and rats in sham operation group underwent the same surgical procedures without inserting a suture. The acupoints Dazhui (DU 14), Baihui (DU 20), and Shuigou (DU 26) on Du vessel were selected for D group. Guanyuan (RN4), Qihai (RN 6), Chengjiang (RN24), as well as those three points for D group were applied in RD group. All acupoints, except DU 26 and RN 24, were connected to an electro-acupuncture apparatus. In D group and RD group, treatments were given once a day,1-7 times in total for different subgroups respectively; while treatment was not given to those rats in both S group and M group.Neurological function and infarct volume were assessed, mitochondrial ultrastructure was investigate through transmission electron microscopy, levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in peripheral serum were detected, expressions of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF a), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic factor-1 (MCP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in brain tissues were assessed through immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsAfter treatement, we found improved neurological function and reduced infarct volume, restored mitochondria injury, down-regulated ACTH levels and up-regulated HSP70 levels in peripheral serum, inhibited expressions of TNF α、IL-1β、IL-6、ICAM-1、MCP-1、MMP-9, and up-regulated TGFβ1 levels in affected brain tisuues.ConclusionThis study demonstrates neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.