The expression of IL-1? and the effect of acupuncture on the IL-1? in rats underwent acute cerebral ischemia followed by reperfusion / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the expression of IL-1? and to study the mechanism of acupuncture for focal cerebral ischemia. Methods The ischemia-reperfusion model was established in rats. The immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect the expression of IL-1?in the sham operation group, control group and acupuncture group at 2h, 6h,12h,24h after reperfusion following middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats, TTC staining method was used to observe the infarct volume at 24h after reperfusion. Results The sham operation group showed a baseline expression of IL-1? in cortex and striate body. The cells expressing IL-1? were increased in 2h after reperfusion and peaked at 12h after reperfusion in the control and acupuncture groups. The expression of IL-1? was weaker in acupuncture group as compared to that in the control group at all the time points. Conclusion Acupuncture could downregulate the expression of IL-1?in cortex and striate body and reduce infarct volume. It was indicated in the study that downregulated expression of IL-1? might be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture protecting the brain from ischemic damage.