LAUSR

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1)/CD31 around the cerebral infarction focus in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats and the possible mechanism, thus to provide a new strategy for the treatment of cerebral ischemic stroke by acupuncture.MethodsA total of 180 healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, an acupoint group and a non-acupoint group, 45 rats in each group. MCAO model was established using the modified line-embolus method in all rats except for those in the sham operation group; rats in the acupoint group were treated with EA at Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23); rats in the non-acupoint group were treated with EA at the control points; rats in other 2 groups were only subjected to bundling without treatment. Ten rats in each group were randomly selected on the 3rd day, the 14th day and the 21st day after acupuncture stimulation to test the neurological function impairment. The expression levels of CD31 and VEGF were also detected.ResultsCompared with the model group and non-acupoint group, the neurological function score of the acupoint group was decreased at each time point, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expressions of VEGF and CD31 in each group were the lowest on the 3rd day, reached the peak on the 14th day and still remained at high level on the 21st day. And the differences among groups were statistically significant both on the 14th day and the 21st day (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group, the expressions of VEGF and CD31 in the acupoint group were increased, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).ConclusionEA at Ganshu (BL 18) and Shenshu (BL 23) can significantly improve the neurological function score of MCAO model rats, and shows protective effect on cerebral ischemia. The protective mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of CD31 and VEGF expression around the cerebral infarction focus in the MCAO model rats and induction of angiogenesis.摘要目的探讨电针肝俞和肾俞对大脑中动脉梗塞(MCAO)模型大鼠脑梗死灶周围血管新生相关因子血管内皮 生长因子(VEGF)、血小板-内皮细胞粘附分子(PECAM-1)/CD31的影响及可能机制, 为针刺治疗脑缺血中风提供新方 案。方法将180只健康雄性Sprague-Dawley (SD)大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、穴位组和非穴组, 每组45只。 除假手术组外, 其余各组大鼠均采用改良线栓法制备MCAO模型; 穴位组予电针肝俞和肾俞治疗, 非穴组予电针 非穴点治疗, 其余两组大鼠只捆绑, 不治疗。在MCAO术后针灸刺激的第3 d、14 d及21 d三个时间点各组随机抽10 只大鼠测试大鼠神经缺损症状; 同时检测CD31和VEGF的表达量。结果与模型组和非穴组比较, 穴位组各时相的 神经功能评分降低, 组间差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05, P<0.01)。各组大鼠VEGF和CD31的表达在第3 d时最低, 于 14 d达高峰, 第21 d仍维持在较高水平, 各组第14 d与第21 d比较均有统计学意义(P<0.05, P<0.01)。与模型组及 非穴组比较, 穴位组各时相VEGF和CD31的表达升高, 组间差异具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论电针肝俞和肾 俞能明显改善MCAO模型大鼠神经功能评分, 对脑缺血有保护作用, 保护机制可能与电针上调MCAO模型大鼠梗 死灶周围CD31和VEGF表达, 诱导血管新生有关。