Effect Of "Warming Yang And Nourishing Qi" Acupuncture To EAMG Rat Neuromuscular Junction Acetylcholine Receptor Protein Expression

Purpose: In my thesis, we would start from constructing the experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis(EAMG) rat models. And then we would perform a “warming yang and nourishing qi” acupuncture therapy to the rats to observe the weight and symptom of the EAMG rats and test the gastrocnemius neuromuscular junction(NMJ) acetylcholine receptor protein. Furthermore, we will discuss and complete the dynamics of acupuncture to cure EAMG rat by analyzing the data we obtained.Method: We will activate 60 SPF-“grade three” female Lewis rats to obtain EAMG rat models with AchRα1 129-145 polypeptide fragments. The Lennon symptom judging method and serum AchR-Ab positive levels are used to identify if the model is successful. 30 EAMG rats were selected randomly and divided into 3 groups, labeling as model group, drug group and acupuncture- treating group, respectively. Another 10 rats, which were purchased at the same time, are used as the comparing group. In our experiments, no treatment applied to the comparing group and the model group. Pyridostigmine bromide is used to cure the drug group rats by gavage. And acupuncture-treating group will be treated with irritating by “warming yang and nourishing qi” acupuncture therapy. 7 days is one treatment course. After 2 courses of treatments, we will take the tissues of gastrocnemius neuromuscular junction of the rats to test the acetylcholine receptor protein with Western blotting techniques. And a software namely SPSS17.0 is used to analyze the differences among groups.Result: ① Compared with blank control group,after successful modelling,the Lennon symptom Scores of the rats in model control group,drug control group and acupuncture treatment before treatment were significantly increased(P<0.01). ② Compared with model control group, the Lennon symptom scores of the rats in drug control group and acupuncturetreatment group after 2 treatments were significantly incre ased(P<0.01). ③Compared with blank control group,the AchR protein expression levels in gastronemus NMJ of the rats in model control group were significantly decreased(P<0.01). ④Compared with model control group,the AchR protein expression levels in gastronemus NMJ of the rats in acupuncture treatment group and drug control group after treatment were significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion: ①EAMG generating process is related to the decreasing of the expression of Acetylcholine receptor protein, Acetylcholine receptor protein has a significant influence to the EAMG generating process. ② Warming yang and nourishing qi” acupuncture therapy could increase the expression of acetylcholine receptor protein, leading an improvement to GA disease, it will provide new objective way and experimental basis to cure MG with “Warming yang and nourishing qi” acupuncture therapy in clinical practice.