ABSTRACT
Objective To study the influence of electro-acupuncture(EA)at Zusanli points(足三里穴) on the apoptosis of thymocytes in rats with abdominal infection and its mechanism.Methods A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into four groups,including normal control group,model group,non-acupoint group and Zusanli group.The abdominal infection model of rat was made by cecal ligation and puncture(CLP).After abdominal cavity infection for 36 hours,the apoptosis of thymocytes was observed under electron microscope and light microscope,and the apoptosis ratio of thymocytes was determined by Annexin V-PI method with flow cytometry technique.The content of Bcl-2 protein of thymocytes and concentration of corticosterone in plasma were determined.Results Abdominal infection resulted from CLP could significantly increase the apoptosis of thymocytes and lead to the typical histopathological changes of apoptosis of thymocytes under electron microscope and light microscope.Apoptosis ratios of thyrnocytes in model group[(44.7?3.3)%],non-acupoint group[(42.7?3.0)%]and Zusanli group[(32.6?3.3)%] were significantly higher than the ratio in the control group[(21.2?2.3)%,all P0.05).Abdominal infection resulted from CLP also could reduce the content of Bcl-2 protein of thymocytes.The content of Bcl-2 protein of thymocytes in model group(71.2?5.6),non-acupoint group(73.5?5.9)and Zusanli group(82.4?6.8) were significantly lower than normal control group(95.3?6.3,all P
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effects of naoyian (NYA) serum on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in cultured rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (RCMEC) with hypoxia.@*METHODS@#NYA serum was separated from rat heart which had been filled stomach with NYA successively for 3 days. The rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were taken from the Sprageu-Dawley rat brain at postborn 7 days. The rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells were incubated at anaerobic incubator to establish the hypoxia models. The vigo of RCMEC was determined by MTT. The level of expression of VEGF protein was measured by cell immunohistochemistry and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#The OD value of NYA serum group was higher than the control groups after hypoxia for 18 hours. VEGF protein was increased by hypoxia in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (P < 0.05). The content of VEGF protein in NYA serum containing medium was more significantly elevated than those cultured in other control media (P < 0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#VEGF protein was induced by hypoxia in rat cerebral microvascular endothelial cells, and NYA could upregulate the expression of VEGF protein, which may be one of the protection mechanisms for cerebral microvascular endothelial cells.