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

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on Zusanli (ST36) and Ashi acupoints in promoting skeletal muscle regeneration and inhibiting excessive fibrosis after contusion in rabbits. Sixty rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: normal, contusion, EA, and recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I). An acute skeletal muscle contusion was produced on the right gastrocnemius (GM) by an instrument-based drop-mass technique. EA was performed for 15 minutes every two days with 0.4 mA (2 Hz), and GM injections were executed with rhIGF-I (0.25 mL once a week). Rabbits treated with EA had a higher T-SOD and T-AOC serum activities and lower MDA serum level, the blood perfusion of which was also significantly higher. In the EA group, the diameter of the myofibril was uniform and the arrangement was regular, contrary to the contusion group. The number and diameter of regenerative myofibers and MHC expression were increased in the EA group. EA treatment significantly decreased fibrosis formation and reduced both GDF-8 and p-Smad2/3 expressions in injured muscle. Our data indicate that EA may promote myofiber regeneration and reduce excessive fibrosis by improving blood flow and antioxidant capacities. Additionally, EA may regulate signaling factor expression after contusion.

The role of oxidative stress in skeletal muscle injury and regeneration: focus on antioxidant enzymes

“…In aged muscles the disturbance in redox status and expression of antioxidant enzymes was also reported (Fulle et al 2004 ). Apart from that, the reverse correlation between total SOD activity and progression of fibrosis in skeletal muscle was also shown (Wang et al 2013 ). Although HO-1 reduces expression of TGF-β (Stachurska et al 2013 ), and lack of Nrf2 causes extensive muscular fibrosis after myotrauma (Al-Sawaf et al 2014 ), the potential antifibrotic effect of HO-1 in skeletal muscle regeneration was not so far examined.…”

Peripheral and Spinal Mechanisms of Pain and Dry Needling Mediated Analgesia: A Clinical Resource Guide for Health Care Professionals

“…However, DN mediated mechanotransduction of fibroblasts may be able to help remodel painful tissue by dampening tissue tension via actin polymerization [110]. A number of studies have demonstrated the use of DN to reduce pain associated with scar [58,113] and fibrotic tissue [114] further supporting this possibility.…”

Effects of electroacupuncture on recovery of the electrophysiological properties of the rabbit gastrocnemius after contusion: an in vivo animal study

“…Researchers have shown that EA can significantly promote tissue repair in such contexts as myocardial infarction, nerve regeneration, and wound healing [ 12 - 15 ]. Moreover, EA can also accelerate muscle regeneration and improve the quality of repair after skeletal muscle injury [ 6 ]. Our previous studies showed that EA treatment reduces the expression of both GDF-8 and p-Smad2/3, decreases the formation of fibrotic tissue in injured muscle, increases the expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC), and enhances the capillary density at injured sites, thereby improving muscle fiber regeneration [ 6 ].…”

“…Moreover, EA can also accelerate muscle regeneration and improve the quality of repair after skeletal muscle injury [ 6 ]. Our previous studies showed that EA treatment reduces the expression of both GDF-8 and p-Smad2/3, decreases the formation of fibrotic tissue in injured muscle, increases the expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC), and enhances the capillary density at injured sites, thereby improving muscle fiber regeneration [ 6 ]. However, whether EA can promote the functional recovery of skeletal muscle is still unclear.…”

“…Surface electromyography (EMG) and analysis of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are common and reliable methods to evaluate the electrophysiological properties of a muscle in order to determine the degree of peripheral nerve injury and recovery [ 4 , 5 ]. Our preliminary pathological morphology and molecular biology studies [ 6 ] indicated that electroacupuncture (EA) at the ST36 and Ashi acupoints could promote regeneration of the rabbit gastrocnemius (GM) by improving microcirculation perfusion, promoting the recovery of myofiber structures, and inhibiting excessive fibrosis. However, the effects of EA on the recovery of GM electrophysiological properties after contusion are not yet clear.…”