Effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of GDNF and Ret in Parkinson's disease model rats / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy on Parkinson's disease (PD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-operation group, a model group, a Fengfu-Taichong group and a Shuanggu Yitong group. PD model was duplicated by microinjection of 6-Hydroxyl-Dopamine into right corpora striata, and by microinjection of normal saline in sham-operation group. Rats in normal group, sham-operation group and model group were not treated. In Fengfu-Taichong group, the rats were treated by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) on the basis of the PD model, and by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16), "Taichong" (LR 3), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in Shuanggu Yitong group, once daily for 2 weeks. GDNF and Ret expression were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of GDNF positive cells and the content of Ret receptor increased significantly in the two electroacupuncture groups compared with those in the other groups (all P < 0.01), and the expression of GDNF increased significantly in Shuanggu Yitong group compared with that in Fengfu-Taichong group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can not only increase the expression of GDNF, but also enhance its effect. "Shuanggu Yitong" method is better than simple acupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) in increasing expression of GDNF.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture on behaviors and dopaminergic neurons in the rat of Parkinson's disease / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the possibility of electroacupuncture (EA) for prevention of the injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson's disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a sham-operation group and an EA group. 6-OH-DA was injected into right substantia nigra of the midbrain to made Parkinson's disease rat model with single side substantia nigra injury, and TH/TUNEL method and rotation behavior observation method were used to observe changes of rotation behavior and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra after EA at "Taichong" (LR 3) and "Fengfu" (GV 16) for 3 d, 7 d and 14 d.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rotation times/min were same at 3 d, 7 d and 14 d were the basically same in the model group, and at 14 d significantly decreased in the EA group (P<0.05); the rotation starting time at 7 d and 14 d in the model group were significantly longer than those in the EA group (P<0.05); the rotation lasting time at 3 d, 7 d and 14 d in the model group and the EA group were gradually shortened (P<0.01, or P<0.05), but at 7 d, 14 d in the model group were significantly longer than those in the EA group (P<0.05); the DA neuron apoptosis number in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, with a very significant difference (P<0.01); the apoptosis number in the EA group tended to decrease, at 7 d and 14 d were significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture can effectively prevent from injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson's disease.</p>