ABSTRACT
Objective:To study the effect of treadmill exercise and massage shortly after acute injury on expression of key growth factor in muscle satellite cells activation, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) / mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) / extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathways in muscle satellite cell in rats. Methods:A total of 40 SPF male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups A (n = 8), B (n = 8), C (n = 8), D (n = 8) and E (n = 8). Group A did not receive any treatment, while the other rats were contused the gastrocnemius muscle with self-made impactor. Group B received no intervention, groups C and D received massage and treadmill exercise shortly after injury, respectively, while group E received both treadmill exercise and massage shortly after injury. As the model was established, samples of gastrocnemius were obtained from all the rats 24 hours after injury, and observed under HE staining, detected the expression of MyoD1 and MyoG mRNA with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and expression of IGF-1, p-MAPK, p-MEK and p-ERKI/2 protein with Western blotting. Results:The expression of MyoD1 mRNA was more in groups C, D and E than in group B, which was the most in group C; less expression of MyoG mRNA, which was the most in group E (P < 0.05). The expression of p-MAPK, p-MEK and p-EPK1/2 was more in groups C, D and E than in group B, which was the most in group D (P < 0.05). The expression of IGF-1 increased in group C compared with that in group B (P < 0.05), and it decreased in group D (P < 0.05). Conclusion:Early intervention of treadmill exercise and massage may promote the activation of muscle satellite cells in different ways.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on blood-brain barrier to promote intake of drugs into brain of SAMP8 mice. Methods:The male SAMP8 mice (30-week-old) were randomly divided into model group (n = 7), drug group (n = 7), acupuncture group (n = 7) and combined group (n = 7). Other SAMR1 mice were as control group (n = 7). The acupuncture group and the combined group accepted electroacupuncture at Baihui (DU20) and Yintang (EX-HN3), the drug group and the combined group accepted Donepezil, for four weeks. They were observed hippocampus tight junction (TJ) under transmission electron microscope. The activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in hippocampus were detected with immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of ZO-1, Claudin-5 and Occludin was detected with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:TJ and basement membrane in the control group, the acupuncture group and the combined group were better than those in the model group and the drug group. AChE was the most in the combined group, and then the drug group and the control group, the acupuncture group and the model group (P < 0.001). The expression of mRNA of ZO-1, Claudin-5 and Occludin was more in the acupuncture group and the combined group than in the drug group (P < 0.01). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture could ameliorate blood-brain barrier disruption and promote drug to enter the brain in SAMP8 mice, which may relate to the adjustion of ZO-1, Claudin-5 and Occludin.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on muscular atrophy and expression of microRNAs (Mir-1, Mir-133a, Mir-133b) and some proliferation-related factors of muscle satellite cells as histone deacetylase4 (HDAC4) and the paired box transcription factor Pax7 (Pax7) in skeletal muscle atrophy rats. METHODS: Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into sham operation, model and EA groups. The skeletal muscle atrophy model was established by transection of the right sciatic nerve. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to the right "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Huantiao"(GB30) for 10 min, once a day, seven times a week for 2 weeks. The wet weight of bilateral gastrocnemius muscles was measured to calculate the ratio of weight between the affected gastrocnemius muscle and healthy gastrocnemius muscle. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastrocnemius muscle on the affected side was measured after H.E. staining. The expression levels of Mir-1, Mir-133a, Mir-133b, HDAC4 mRNA and Pax7 mRNA in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue were detected using quantitative real time-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the ratio of wet weight and CSA of the gastrocnemius muscle, and the expression levels of Mir-1 and Mir-133a were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05), while the expression levels of HDAC4 mRNA and Mir-133b significantly up-regulated in the model group (P<0.05). Following EA intervention, the decreased levels of the ratio of wet weight and CSA of the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly suppressed (P<0.01), suggesting an inhibition of the skeletal muscle atrophy, and the expression levels of Pax7 and HDAC4 mRNAs were notably up-regulated (P<0.05), and those of Mir-1, Mir-133a and Mir-133b were significantly or further significantly down-regulated relevant to the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA intervention can delay muscular atrophy in rats with denervated gastrocnemius muscle, which may be related with its function in up-regulating the expression of Pax7 and HDAC4 mRNAs and down-regulating the expression of Mir-1, Mir-133a and Mir-133b.