Effect of acupuncture on cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in hippocampus of aged rats during global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the hippocampus of aged rats during global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion ( I∕R ) . Methods Ninety-six clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 17-22 months, weighing 440-580 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=32 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group ( group S), global cerebral I∕R group (group I∕R) and acupuncture group (group AP). Global cerebral I∕R was induced by 4-vessel occlusion method described by Pulsinelli in group I∕R and group AP. Baihui and Feng-chi were stimulated for 14 consecutive days before ischemia in group AP. Four rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of reperfusion, and brains were removed for determination of neuronal apoptosis by TUNEL. Four rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of reperfusion, and brains were removed for determination of the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α) and interleukin-1β ( IL-1β) in the hippocampal CA1 region by Western blot. The apoptosis rate was calculated. Results Compared with group S, the apoptosis rate of hippocam-pal neurons was significantly increased, and the expression of α7nAChR, ChAT, TNF-α and IL-1β was up-regulated at each time point of reperfusion in I∕R and AP groups ( P<0. 05) . Compared with group I∕R, the apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly decreased, the expression of α7nAChR and ChAT was up-regulated, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β was down-regulated at each time point ofreperfusion in group AP (P<0. 05). Conclusion The mechanism by which acupuncture mitigates global cerebral I∕R injury may be related to activating cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in the hippocampus of aged rats.