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Effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on motor function and cerebral blood flow in MCAO model rats

电针预处理对MCAO模型大鼠运动功能及脑血流的影响

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Abstract

Objective

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on motor function, cerebral blood flow, cerebral infarction volume, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model rats.

Methods

Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group, with eight rats in each group. The middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion model was established by the suture-occluded method in the model group and the EA group, while not in the normal group. The EA group was pretreated with EA at bilateral Fengchi (GB20) before model preparation, once a day for 30 min each time for a total of 7 d. The changes in the CatWalk gait parameters, modified Bederson neurological deficit score, cerebral blood flow, cerebral infarction volume after ischemia, and VEGF level in the brain tissue of rats in each group were observed.

Results

Compared with the normal group, the modified Bederson neurological deficit score in the model group and the EA group increased after modeling (P<0.05), and the CatWalk gait parameters (one-leg stance duration, gait cadence, and gait cycle) were all changed (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the modified Bederson neurological deficit score in the EA group decreased (P<0.05), and the CatWalk gait parameters improved (P<0.05). Immediately after ischemia, the cerebral blood flow in the normal group was greater than that in the model group and the EA group (P<0.05); after reperfusion, the cerebral blood flow in the EA group was greater than that in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the cerebral infarction volume in the model group and the EA group increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the cerebral infarction volume in the EA group decreased (P<0.05). The expression level of VEGF-positive cells in the rat brain tissue in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05), and was higher in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

EA pretreatment improves the limb motor function in MCAO model rats, alleviates the symptoms of neurological deficits, promotes the recovery of cerebral blood flow, reduces the cerebral infarction area after MCAO modeling, and increases the VEGF expression in the brain tissue.

摘要

目的

观察电针预处理对大脑中动脉闭塞(MCAO)模型大鼠运动功能及脑血流、脑组织梗死体积及脑组织血 管内皮生长因子(VEGF)含量的影响。

方法

将24 只雄性Sprague-Dawley 大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组和电针组, 每 组8 只。模型组和电针组采用线栓法制备大脑中动脉缺血再灌注模型, 正常组不做处理。电针组在模型制备前进 行电针双侧风池的预处理, 每日1 次, 每次30 min, 共干预7 d。观察各组大鼠CatWalk 步态参数、Bederson 改进神 经缺损评分、脑血流量、缺血后脑梗死灶体积和脑组织VEGF 含量的变化。

结果

与正常组比较, 模型组、电针组 造模后Bederson 改进神经缺损评分升高(P<0.05), CatWalk 步态参数(单脚站立时间、步态节奏、步态周期)均改变 (P<0.05)。与模型组比较, 电针组干预后Bederson 改进神经缺损评分降低(P<0.05), CatWalk 步态参数好转(P<0.05)。 缺血即刻, 正常组大鼠脑血流量大于模型组和电针组(P<0.05); 再灌注后, 电针组脑血流量大于模型组(P<0.05)。与正 常组相比, 模型组和电针组脑梗死体积增加(P<0.05); 与模型组相比, 电针组大鼠脑梗死体积减小(P<0.05)。模型组大 鼠脑组织VEGF 阳性细胞表达高于正常组(P<0.05), 而电针组明显高于模型组(P<0.05)。

结论

电针预处理能改善 MCAO 模型大鼠的肢体运动功能, 减轻神经功能缺损症状, 促进脑血流量恢复, 减小MCAO 模型后大鼠的脑梗死区 域, 提高脑组织VEGF 表达。

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Research Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (上海市科 学技术委员会科研计划项目, No. 17ZR1427500); Research Project of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (上海市卫生和计划生育委员 会科研课题, No. 201640128); Shanghai Talent Development Fund (上海市人才发展基金项目, No. 2017104).

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Correspondence to Mingshu Xu  (徐鸣曙).

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There is no potential conflict of interest in this article.

Statement of Human and Animal Rights

The treatment of animals conformed to the ethical criteria in this experiment.

Co-first Authors: TAO Miaomiao, M.M.; DENG Yunyi, master degree candidate

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Tao, M., Deng, Y., Cheng, A. et al. Effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on motor function and cerebral blood flow in MCAO model rats. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 20, 165–173 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-022-1308-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-022-1308-6

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