ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of combining electroacupuncture with nerve mobilization to improve lower extremity motor function after sciatic nerve injury. And to document any changes in mRNA and protein expression of Ras-related C3 botoxin substrate 1. Methods 180 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model control group, an electroacupuncture group, a nerve mobilization group, and an elec-troacupuncture combined with nerve mobilization group, each of 36. Sciatic nerve injury was modelled using the clam-ping method in all except the normal control group. The control group had no intervention, while the nerve mobiliza-tion group, the electroacupuncture group and the combined group were treated with nerve mobilization, and/or elec-troacupuncture applied to the rabbit analogue of the jiaji acupoint. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, toe reflex scores and modified Tarlov scores were used to assess any functional recovery. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, 12 of the rabbits in each group were sacrificed and the sciatic nerve and the L4-L6 segments of the spinal cord were re-sected. The expression of Ras-related C3 botoxin substrate 1 mRNA and protein was detected using the polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results Sciatic nerve function and the expression of Ras-related C3 botoxin sub-strate 1 mRNA in the spinal cords and sciatic nerves of the three treatment groups were significantly higher than in the model control group at all three time points, but significantly lower than in the normal control group. The combined group′s results were significantly better than with electroacupuncture or nerve mobilization alone. After 1, 2, and 4 weeks of treatment, the average expression of Ras-related C3 botoxin substrate 1 protein in the spinal cords of the three treatment groups was significantly higher than the model control group′s average, but significantly lower than that of the normal control group at the same time point. After 1 week of treatment the average expression of Ras-related C3 botoxin substrate 1 protein in the spinal cords of the combined group was significantly higher than that in the group receiving electroacupuncture alone. After 2 and 4 weeks it was also significantly higher than the nerve mobilization group′s aver-age. After 1 week of treatment, the average expression of Ras-related C3 botoxin substrate 1 protein in the sciatic nerves of all three treatment groups was significantly lower than that of the control group. However, 1 and 3 weeks later the av-erage protein expression in the sciatic nerves was significantly higher than in the model control group, but significantly lower than in the normal control group at the same time points. The combined group′s average was then significantly higher than those of the groups receiving electroacupuncture or nerve mobilization alone at the same time point. Conclusion Nerve stimulation combined with electroacupuncture applied to the jiaji acupoint can promote the regener-ation of axons after sciatic nerve injury. The mechanism may be related to up-regulation of the Ras-related C3 botoxin substrate 1 gene and protein expression in the injured sciatic nerve and corresponding spinal cord segments.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of acupuncture-rehabilitation therapy on neurological function and expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1, members of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, after permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups, namely sham group, model group, acupuncture group, rehabilitation group and acupunc-ture-rehabilitation group, and each group was further divided into 3-day, 7-day and 14-day subgroups, equally. Their middle cerebral arteries were occluded except those of sham group. The sham and model groups accepted no treatment, while the acupuncture group accepted clus-ter needling of scalp acupuncture, the rehabilitation group accepted treadmill training, and the acupuncture-rehabilitation group accepted both acupuncture and treadmill training. They were assessed with modified Neurologic Severity Score (mNSS) 3, 7 and 14 days after model-ing, while the expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 were determined with Western blotting. Results The mNSS score reduced in all the treatment groups (P<0.05) compared with that of the model group at every time point, and was the least in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P<0.05) 7 and 14 days after modeling among the treatment groups. Meanwhile, the expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 protein increased in all the treatment groups (P<0.05), and was the most in the acupuncture-rehabilitation group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture-rehabilitation thera-py can promote the neurological function recovery in rat with permanent focal cerebral ischemia, which may be associated with the continu-ous inducement of Flt-1, Flk-1 protein expression in ischemic penumbra cortex.