Effect of electroacupuncture preconditioning on activity of AMP-activated protein kinase in hippocampal neurons during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning on activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in hippocampal neurons during cerebral ischemiareperfusion (I/R) in mice.Methods A total of 60 male C57BL6 mice,aged 7 weeks,weighing 20-22 g,were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=12 each) using a random number tablecontrol group (C group),sham operation group (S group),I/R group,acupuncture at acupoint Baihui preconditioning group (EA + I/R group),and acupuncture at non-acupoint preconditioning group (NEA + I/R group).Baihui acupoints were stimulated with electric stimulator (frequency 2 Hz/15 Hz,intensity 1 mA) for 30 min once a day for 5 consecutive days.At 24 h after the last stimulation,the model of cerebral I/R injury was established.Bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded by clipping for 15 min followed by reperfusion.Neurological deficit score (NDS) was assessed at 3 days after operation.Then the mice were sacrificed and the brains were immediately harvested for microscopic examination and for determination of apoptosis in hippocampal neurons (using TUNEL) and expression of phosphor-AMPKα (pAMPKα) and caspase-3 (by Western blot).Results Compared with group C,NDS and the number of apoptotic neurons in hippocampal CA1 region were significantly increased,and the expression of pAMPKα and caspase-3 was up-regulated in I/R and EA+I/R groups,and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group S.Compared with group I/R,NDS and the number of apoptotic neurons in hippocampal CA1 region were significantly increased,the expression of pAMPKα was up-regulated,and the expression of caspase-3 was down-regulated in group EA +I/R,and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group NEA+I/R.The pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 region were significantly attenuated in group EA + I/R as compared with group I/R.Conclusion The mechanism by which EA preconditioning mitigates apoptosis in hippocampal neurons during cerebral I/R is related to promotion of AMPK activation in mice.