Neurochemical Mechanism of Electroacupuncture: Anti‐Injury Effect on Cerebral Function after Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Abstract

We explored the neurochemical mechanism of electroacupuncture's (EA) protective effect on brain function in focal cerebral ischemia rats, using cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats established by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham, Sham+EA, MCAO and MCAO+EA. The rats in Sham+EA and MCAO+EA were accepted EA treatment at ‘GV26’ and ‘GV20’ acupoints for 30 min. Electric stimulation was produced by a G-6805 generator and neurological deficit scores were recorded. Mitochondria respiratory function and the activities of respiratory enzymes were measured by a computer-aided Clark oxygen electrode system. Results showed that EA treatment might reduce the neurological deficit score, and significantly improve respiratory control ratio (RCR), the index of mitochondrial respiratory function, and increase the activities of succinic dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome C oxidase in the MCAO rats. Results suggest that EA might markedly decrease the neurological deficit score, promote the activities of respiratory enzymes and reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in improvement of respiratory chain function and anti-oxidative capability of brain tissues in the infarct penumbra zone. This be a mechanism of EA's anti-injury effect on brain function in MCAO rats.

The Time Course Effects of Electroacupuncture on Promoting Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Inhibiting Excessive Fibrosis after Contusion in Rabbits

“…This creates further reactive oxygen species generation and cellular injury [57]. This study confirmed that EA improved mitochondrial function in injured tissues [58], and electro-acupuncturing the ST36 acupoint [59] relieved the swelling of mitochondria. On day 28, the contusion group showed mitochondrial changes accompanied by myofibril fracture and atrophy.…”

Electroacupuncture Acutely Improves Cerebral Blood Flow and Attenuates Moderate Ischemic Injury via an Endothelial Mechanism in Mice

“…EA administered 15 min after occlusion of MCA enhanced the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1, which might be an important mechanism of neuroprotective effects of EA against cerebral ischemia in monkey [4]. Moreover, application of EA immediately after ischemia could increase anti-oxidative activities, thereby reducing neurological deficits in ischemic rats [5], [28]. When EA stimulation was administered immediately after reperfusion, EA attenuated neuronal cell death via regulation of different receptors such as NMDA receptor, and downstream intracellular signaling events inducing phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt and caspase-9 [6], [29], [30].…”

Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Learning and Memory via Activation of the CREB Signaling Pathway in the Hippocampus to Attenuate Apoptosis after Cerebral Hypoperfusion

“…EA has been recommended as a complementary therapy in the global scope of stroke rehabilitation. Several studies investigating the effectiveness of EA with cerebral ischemia have been conducted, and beneficial neuroprotective effects have been observed [15–18]. Both in animal models of cognitive impairment and in patients with deficiencies of learning and memory, some inspiring outcomes of EA have been reported [19, 20].…”