Differences in post-ischaemic motor recovery and angiogenesis of MCAO rats following electroacupuncture at different acupoints.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nElectroacupuncture (EA) can promote nerve and vascular regeneration, confer neuroprotection, inhibit apoptosis and inflammatory reactions, reduce oxidative stress injury, regulate neurochemicals and inhibit the formation of brain oedema in cerebral ischaemia. However, the precise site of EA stimulation in the treatment of cerebral ischaemia is unclear.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nIn the present study, we investigated the effect of EA at the acupoints of different meridians in motor function recovery and the involvement of VEGF, P-Akt, p-eNOS and CD31 were examined in the peri-infarction cortex of rats.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThe Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model or sham surgery was performed in a total of Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: a sham group, a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group, a Yang meridian group, a Yin meridian group and a combined Yang and Yin meridian group. EA stimulus was given during the middle cerebral artery occlusion. The neurobehavioural function was measured using mNSS, the rotarod test and the ladder run walking test, and the protein expression of VEGF, P-Akt, p-eNOS in the peri-infarction cortex was detected by Western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to measure the vascular density of the peri-infarction cortex.\n\n\nRESULTS\nEA at different meridian acupoints has no effect on the infarction volume, while EA at Yin meridian acupoints significantly promoted neurobehavioural functional recovery, increased the vascular density and enhanced Akt/eNOS phosphorylation and VEGF expression.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nIn the early stage of stroke, EA at Yin meridian acupoints can improve neurobehavioural functional recovery and the mechanism of this effect may be related to the enhanced expression of VEGF, P-Akt and p-eNOS in the peri-infarction cortex of rats.