Résumé
Objective:To explore whether the electroacupunture stimulation (ES) at acupoint Zusanli (ST36) can inhibit the bone loss caused by Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection and its mechanism in a model of SA osteomyelitis.Methods:Twelve male C57 BL/6 mice aged 10 to 12 weeks were randomly divided into 2 even groups ( n=6) for SA infection + ES or SA infection only. After ES at ST36 was conducted for 4 weeks in the model of SA osteomyelitis, samples were harvested from the femora and tibiae. Micro-CT reconstruction was performed to detect trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), connectivity density (Conn.Dn) to analyze changes in bone mass. Leptin receptor (LEPR) staining was performed to detect osteoblasts. Tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to detect the changes in osteoclasts. The changes in plasma inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Micro-CT results showed that the BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb.Th, and Conn.Dn in the cancellous bone in the target areas in the SA + ES group were all higher than those in the SA group, LEPR immunofluorescence results indicated that the number of osteogenic precursor cells in the ES group was larger than that in the SA group, and serum ELISA indicated a decrease in inflammatory factors in the blood in the SA+ES group compared with the SA group. There were significant differences in the comparisons above ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of osteoclasts on the surface of trabecular bone between the 2 groups in TRAP staining. Conclusion:ES may slow down infectious bone destruction by inhibiting the inflammatory response induced by SA infection and by inducing aggregation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into trabecular bone.