The effect of electroacupuncture combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation on the expression of the B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 genes and brain derived neurotrophic factor in rats after cerebral infarction / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the expression of the B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 gene (Bcl-2) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) after cerebral infarction. Methods One hundred Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into a normal group, a sham-operated control group, a model group and an EA plus TMS group. A cerebral infarction model was established in the latter two groups using left middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Five-member subgroups of the EA plus TMS group were then treated at 6, 12, 24,48 and 72 hours after reperfusion. Sham EA plus TMS was given to similar sub-groups from the other groups at the same time points. The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and BDNF mRNA were measured using a RT-PCR at the 14th day. Results Positive expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and BDNF mRNA was detected around the infarction in all groups. The average expression of both was significantly higher in the EA plus TMS group than in the model group. Bcl-2 mRNA peaked when the therapy was administered at 24 hours and BDNF mRNA at 48 hours.Conclusions The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and BDNF mRNA is maximized when EA plus TMS is administered 24-48 hours after cerebral infarction. EA plus TMS does have protective and rehabilitative effects on rats after cerebral infarction.