Effect of acupuncture on neural cell apoptosis of cerebral palsy rats / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Acupuncture has been shown to impact cerebral blood flow, relieve cerebral edema, improve microcirculation and reduce neural cel apoptosis in animals with cerebral palsy. OBJECTIVE:To further verify the effect of acupuncture on neuronal apoptosis in cerebral palsy rats. METHODS:Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group and the acupuncture group, with 15 rats in each group. In the model and acupuncture groups, rat models of cerebral palsy were established by ligating the left common carotid artery. In the sham surgerygroup, the left common carotid artery was not ligated. Rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture from 2 days after model induction, once a day, for 20 consecutive days. Rats in the sham surgery and model groups were left intact. At 21 days aftersurgery, neurological functions, pathomorphological changes and neuronal apoptosis were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Motor function score was significantly lower in the model group than in the sham surgery group (P< 0.05). Motor function scorewas significantly higher in the acupuncture group than in the model group at 21 days (P< 0.05). (2) Hematoxylin-eosin staining In the model group, cels were scattered. Inflammatory cel infiltration and cystis degeneration were found. The number of nerve cels was reduced. Degeneration, necrosis, gliosis and karyopyknosis were detected. Cavitation was visible in some cels. Cel bodies became smal. The structure was not distinct or disappeared. In the sham surgery group, the morphology and structure ofnerve cels were normal. In the acupuncture group, the changes in morphology and structure of nerve cels were found between the sham surgery and model groups. (3) The number of apoptotic cels was significantly greater in the model group than in the sham surgery group (P< 0.05). The number of apoptotic nerve cels was significantly higher in the acupuncture group than in the sham surgery group (P< 0.05), but significantly lower than in the model group (P< 0.05). (4) Results confirmed that acupuncture therapy can improve neurological function, reduce nerve cel apoptosis, and play a protective effect on nerve cels of rats with cerebral palsy.