EIectroacupuncture effects on bladder capacity and tissue morphology of the neurogenical bladder after sacral spinal cord injury / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Spinal cord injuries induced by sacral segment and lumbar lesions can damage the primary sacral micturition center or its surrounding nerves (parasympathetic and somatic nerve) to cause detrusor areflexia, thereby leading to urinary retention and further pathological changes in bladder tissue morphology. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at the Ciliao (BL32), Zhongji (RN3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints on bladder capacity and bladder tissue morphology of rats with urinary retention after sacral spinal cord injury. METHODS:Ten of 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly selected as blank group, and other 30 rats were randomly divided into model group, acupoint group and non-acupoint group. In the model group, the rats received no electroacupuncture. In the non-acupoint group, acupuncture and electroacupuncture at non-acupoint points were performed, respectively, for 20 minutes. In the acupoint group, acupuncture and electroacupuncture were performed at the Ciliao, Zhongji, and Sanyinjiao acupoints. Bladder capacity was measured at days 14 and 22 after treatment. After treatment, bladder tissues were extracted for morphological observation with hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) The maximum bladder capacity in the acupoint group was obviously reduced after treatment (P<0.01);the curative effect in the acupoint group was more obvious than the non-acupoint group (P<0.05);the difference between preoperative and postoperative bladder capacity (d value) was more significant in the acupoint group than the non-acupoint group (P<0.05). (2) Compared with the model and non-acupoint groups, morphological changes in the bladder tissue were improved more significantly in the acupoint group. These findings indicate that electroacupuncture at the Ciliao, Zhongji, and Sanyinjiao acupoints can effectively reduce the maximum bladder capacity and repair the damaged bladder tissue after sacral spinal cord injury.