Effect of electroacupuncturing Shuigou and Baihui on activation of microglia in brain of ischemia-reperfusion rats

Mingjun LUO; Ling CHENG; Li XU; Shenghong LIU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Microglia is the immune effect cell in central nervous system, if it is activated, it will release neuron poisoning factors and inflammatory factors, and bring fatal injury.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigated the effect of focal cerebral reperfusion on activation of microglia and the effect of the regulation of electroacupuncturing Shuigou and Baihui.

DESIGN:

A randomized and controlled study.

SETTING:

The department of Physioltherapy, the 458 Hospital of Chinese PLA; Dongfang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Tongji University; The department of Histology-embryology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS This experiment was processed at Histology-embryology Center of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in March 2002. Total 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups with 10 in each group.

METHODS:

① Normal control group The rats were not given any treatment and killed next day. ② Sham operation group Only artery was separated, no suture inserted, killed next day. ③ 6, 12 and 24-hour reperfusion groups The rats' right middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia-reperfusion model was made by embolus suture technique, then the rat was killed after 30 minutes' occlusion at MCA and reperfusing respectively 6, 12, 24hours. ④ 6-hour reperfusion + electroacupuncture group Electroacupuncture was carried out immediately after the model was made, then the rat was killedafter 30 minutes' occlusion at MCA and reperfusion 6 hours (The frequency was 4 Hz-16 Hz. Stimulus intensity increased 1 V per 10minutes and the final intensity was 3V. The stimulus was lasted 30 minutes). ⑤ 12-hour reperfusion + electroacupuncture B group Electroacupuncture was carried out immediately after the model was made and 8 hours later, then the rat was killed after 30 minutes' occlusion at MCA and reperfusion 12 hours. ⑥ 24-hour reperfusion + electroacupuncture group Electroacupuncture was carried out immediately after the model was made and 8, 16 hours later, then the rat was killed after 30 minutes' occlusion at MCA and reperfusion 24 hours.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

To calculate numbers of microglia and to observe its morphological changes.

RESULTS:

Data of totally 67 rats was entered the results analysis. No microglia was seen in the normal and sham operation groups. Large quantity of microglia was activated at the border of ischemic area in 6, 12 and 24reperfusion group, their quantity was largely increased, reaching apex at reperfusion 12 hours [(35.38±1.77), (54.25±1.67), (49.29±2.21)/200sights]. The quantity in every 6, 12 and 24 reperfusion + electroacupuncture group was less than that in model group [(32.11±2.80), (50.88±2.64),(45.45±3.95)/200 sights, P ＜ 0.05].

CONCLUSION:

The microglia in brain is activated after the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and induces toxic effect on neurons. The electroacupuncture can decrease activation of microglia so as to protect the neurons.