Effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on neurological deficit and expression of cerebral Cx43 protein in rats with acute cerebral infarction

Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research
Ting YinJuan Huang

Abstract

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of cerebral Cx43 protein in acute cerebral infarction (ACI) rats so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of ACI. Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and EA preconditioning groups (n=20 in each group). Fourteen days before modeling, the rats in the EA preconditioning group accepted EA stimulation (3 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) at Dingzhongxian (MS5) and Dingpangxian (MS8) for 30 min, once daily, 6 times a week for 2 weeks. The ACI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 120 min, followed by reperfusion. Twenty-four hours after modeling, the neurological function was evaluated according to the Zea-Longa's score criteria. The triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining method was used to detect the cerebral infarct volume. The expression levels of Cx43, phosphorylated (p)-Cx43 and PKC proteins in the right cerebral cortical infarction region were detected by Western blot. The neurological function scores and the infarct volume were significantly higher in the model group than those in the sham operation group (P<0.05), and obviously lower in the EA preconditioning group than in the model group (P<0.05). T...Continue Reading

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