Electroacupuncture Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Ameliorates Neuronal Injury in Rats with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is a common cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability worldwide. Electroacupuncture (EA) is an effective method for alleviating brain damage after ischemic stroke. However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to determine whether endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) could contribute to the protective effects of EA in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) to provide a rationale for the widespread clinical use of EA. Rats were divided into the sham-operated (sham) group, the CIRI (model) group, and the EA group. Rats in the model group were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h followed by 72 h of reperfusion. Rats with CIRI were treated daily with EA at GV20 and ST36 for a total of 3 days. The Longa scoring system and adhesive removal somatosensory test were applied to evaluate neurological deficits. Then, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed to measure the infarct volume. Immunofluorescence staining for NeuN and GFAP and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- (TdT-) mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining were performed to detect apoptotic cells in brain tissue. Immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and western blotting were used to measure the levels of ERS indicators (GRP78, CHOP/GADD153, p-eIF2α, and caspase 12). The results showed that EA significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volume, improved neurological function, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis. In the EA group compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of GRP78 were significantly increased, and the expression levels of proapoptotic proteins (CHOP/GADD153, p-eIF2α, and caspase 12) were significantly decreased. These results suggest that the possible mechanism by which EA protects cells against neuronal injury in CIRI may involve inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Therapeutic Potential of a Combination of Electroacupuncture and Human iPSC-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles for Ischemic Stroke

“…Because of the complexity of the disease, combinations of acupuncture points increased the efficacy of EA compared with single acupuncture points. As shown in our previous studies, EA at the combination of the “Baihui” (GV20) and “Zusanli” (ST36) acupoints exerts synergistic protective effects on attenuating neuronal injury by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress and ameliorating mitochondrial functional damage in MCAO rats [ 40 , 50 ]. We demonstrated that the combination of two acupoints provided a significant protection against cerebral ischemic injury within seven days [ 51 ], especially on day 3.…”

Electroacupuncture attenuates neuropathic pain via suppressing BIP-IRE-1α-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in the anterior cingulate cortex

“…However, whether the cerebral cortex is involved in the antihyperalgesic effects of EA remains unclear. By regulating ERS, EA can alleviate neuronal apoptosis caused by ischemic stroke or spinal cord injury and promote the recovery of nerve function [ 43 , 44 ], providing a theoretical possibility for EA to alleviate NP by suppressing ERS. In the present study, we performed EA treatment from days 0 to 6 for 30 min/day.…”

Neuroprotective effect of Potentilla reptans L. root in the rat brain global ischemia/reperfusion model

“…[56] Also, cerebral IR injury induces neuronal apoptosis in brain tissue. [57] Transient common carotid arteries occlusion increases Fluoro-Jade B + cells, a fluorescent marker of cellular degeneration or death, in the hippocampus. [55] In agreement with these findings, we found that IR for 8 min resulted in a decrease in the number of neurons in all hippocampal regions.…”