| Objective:Investigating the effects of electro-acupuncture(EA)at "Quchi(LI11)" and "Zusanli(ST36)" acupoints on the motor function,the regional homogeneity and functional connectivity of brain areas in rats with ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods:The rats were under surgery according to Koizumi methods in which successful rats were randomly divided into model group,electro-acupuncture group,non-electro-acupuncture group with random number table method,but the sham-operated group rats only separated blood vessels without any ligation and stitching.EA(electro-acupuncture)intervention on ipsilateral "Quchi(LI11)" and "Zusanli(ST36)" acupoints intervention from the next day after operation.The voltage peak of the electro-acupuncture apparatus is 6V,the density wave and the freguency of 2/20Hz,treatment for 30 min each time and once a day for 7 days.But without any treatment in Sham-operated group and model group.To evaluate the neural defective symptoms of ischemia-reperfusion injured rats using modified neurological severity scores(mNSS)method.The motor behavior changes in each group rats,which observed by gait analysis system Catwalk XT 10.0 and Rota-rod.The Bruker 7.0 T animal magnetic resonance imaging system was used to collect structural and functional images,which used to analysis the changes of neural activity in each brain area with the methods of regional homogeneity(ReHo)and functional connectivity(FC).Results:1.The neurobehavioral test showed that,before the intervention,there were no significant difference of the mNSS scores among the model group,electro-acupuncture group and non-electro-acupuncture group(P>0.05);7 days after the intervention,the mNSS score of electro-acupuncture group rats was reduced,compared with model group and non-electro-acupuncture group rats(P<0.01).At the test of Catwalk,compared with model group and non-electro-acupuncture group,the duration was reduced,the maximum contact area and the stride length(right foreleg,right hind)were increased(P<0.05)in electro-acupuncture group rats after 7 days intervention.At the test of Rota-rod,7 days after the intervention,the percentage of duration on the turn bar in electro-acupuncture group rats was increased,compared with model group and non-electro-acupuncture group(P<0.05).2.Cerebral infarct volume analysis showed that,before the intervention,there were no significant difference of the infarct volume in the model group,electro-acupuncture group and non-electro-acupuncture group was not significantly different(P>0.05);compared with model group and non-electro-acupuncture group,the infarct volume was reduced in electro-acupuncture group rats after 7 days intervention(P<0.01).3.Regional homogeneity analysis showed that,7 days after the intervention,compared with sham-operated group,the values of regional homogeneity was reduced in ipsilateral motor cortex,striatum,visual cortex,auditory cortex,island cortex,contralateral piriform and bilateral hippocampus,sensory cortex,olfactory cortex,dorsal thalamus in the model group(P<0.001);compared with model group,the values of regional homogeneity in ipsilateral motor cortex and striatum,contralateral piriform cortex and bilateral hippocampus,dorsal thalamus,sensory cortex area was increased in the electro-acupuncture group(P<0.001);compared with non-electro-acupuncture group,the values of regional homogeneity of electro-acupuncture group in ipsilateral motor cortex and bilateral hippocampus,sensory cortex was increased(P<0.001).4.The functional connectivity analysis between the ipsilateral motor cortex regarded as a region of interest area existing a significant regional homogeneity difference between the model group and the electro-acupuncture group,and the whole brain showed that,7 days after the intervention,compared with sham-operated group,the functional connectivity of the ROI between ipsilateral dorsal thalamus,hypothalamus,and contralateral motor cortex,cingulate gyrus of model group was weakened(P<0.001);compared with model group,the functional connectivity of the ROI between contralateral motor cortex,bilateral striatum,sensory cortex,retrosplenial dysgranular cortex(as the posterior cingulate gyrus in human),parietal cortex,hippocampus dorsal thalamus,and ipsilateral hypothalamus,cingulate gyrus,olfactory cortex,and visual cortex in electro-acupuncture group was enhanced(P<0.001);compared with non-electro-acupuncture group,the functional connectivity of the ROI between contralateral motor cortex and hypothalamus,bilateral striatum,sensory cortex,retrosplenial dysgranular cortex,parietal cortex,hippocampus,dorsal thalamus,and ipsilateral hypothalamus,cingulate gyrus,and visual cortex in electro-acupuncture group was enhanced(P<0.001).Conclusions:EA at "Quchi(LI11)" and "Zusanli(ST36)" acupoints could improve the motor function in ischemia-reperfusion injury rats,which central mechanism might be related to EA could increase the regional homogeneity and enhance the functional connectivity in motor cortex,striatum,sensory cortex. |
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