Electro-acupuncture Reduces Neuronal Apoptosis Linked to Bax and Bcl-2 Expression in the Spinal Cords of Cats Subjected to Partial Dorsal Root Ganglionectomy

Abstract

While electro-acupuncture (EA) has been well known to contribute towards neuroplasticity occurring in both the central and the peripheral nervous system after injury, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. This study evaluated the effects and the possible mechanism of EA on neuronal apoptosis in the spinal cords of cats subjected to the removal of L(1)-L(5) and L(7)-S(2) dorsal root ganglion, sparing the L(6) dorsal root ganglion. EA treatment decreased the number of TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells in lamina II of the L(3) and L(6) cord segments at 7 and 14 days post operation (dpo). This EA-mediated neuroprotection is associated with a decrease in the number of Bax immunoreactive neurons and an increase in the number of Bcl-2 immunoreactive neurons. Furthermore, Western blot and RT-PCR analysis revealed a significant downregulation of Bax protein and its mRNA, but an upregulation of Bcl-2 in the dorsal horn of L(3) and L(6) cords at both 7 and 14 dpo. The present findings suggest that EA could inhibit neuronal apoptosis in dorsal root deafferentated cat spinal cords, possibly by Bax downregulation and Bcl-2 upregulation.

RETRACTED: Molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in rats

“…28 Previous study reported that EA treatment reduced neuronal apoptosis through decreasing Bax and increasing Bcl-2 expression in the spinal cords of cats following partial resection of dorsal root ganglion. 29 In line with previous studies, our study showed that L-OHP significantly increased Bax/ Bcl-2 ratio in sciatic nerve of rats 14 days after establishing OIPN models, which was reversed by EA treatment. Furthermore, one of the main functions of GR-α is the induction of apoptosis, either by inhibiting the expression of the Bcl-2 or by increasing the expression of Bax.…”

Beta-Asarone Improves Cognitive Function by Suppressing Neuronal Apoptosis in the Beta-Amyloid Hippocampus Injection Rats

“…29) Bcl-2 and Bcl-w is widely expressed in mammalian tissues, including the central nervous system, and functions as a negative regulator of neuronal apoptosis. 30) Neural expression of Bcl-2 is highest in the mature brain, suggesting that Bcl-2 function may be particularly important in adulthood.…”

Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on IGF-I Expression in Spared Dorsal Root Ganglia and Associated Spinal Dorsal Horn in Cats Subjected to Adjacent Dorsal Root Ganglionectomies

“…Cats in groups IV, V were subjected to 7, 14 days of EA treatment at two paired acupoints, zusanli-xuanzhong and futu-sanyinjiao [11]. As shown in Fig.…”