Influence of Adjust Zang Dredge Meridian electroacupuncture in expression of GRP78 in sciatic nerve cells of rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and its neuroprotective effect / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Oective To investigate the expression of glucose regulating protein 78 (GRP78) in the sciatic nerve cells of the rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and to elucidate the clinical significance and mechanism of Adjust Zang Dredge Meridian electroacupuncture in the treatment of DPN. Methods: A total of 86 adult male SD rats were divided into normal control group (n=5) and model group (n=81). The diabetic rat models were built through one-time injection of streptozocin (STZ), and then the diabetic rats were randomly divided into model control group (n=27), medicine intervention group (n=26), and electroacupuncture intervention group (n= 26). The rats in normal control group and model control group were fed with the maintenance feed. During the course of experiment, no special treatment was done for the rats in normal control group and model control group. The rats in drug intervention group were treated with intragastric administration of mecobalamin, 20 mg · kg-1 · d-1, once per day. The rats in electroacupuncture intervention group were treated with Adjust Zang Dredge Meridian electroacupuncture in the bilateral Feishu, Pishu, Shenshu, Hegu, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao and Taichong, once per day, 30 min per time. The thermal sensitivity value, motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) of the tibial nerve of the rats in various groups were measured, the ultrastructures of sciatic nerve of the rats in various groups were observed under transmission electron microscope, the apoptotic rates of sciatic nerve cells of the rats in various groups were detected by TUNEL method, the expressions of GRP78 in sciatic nerve cells of the rats in various groups were detected by immumofluorescence, and the expression levels of GRP78 in sciatic nerve of the rats in various groups were detected by Western blotting method. Results: Compared with medicine intervention group, the thermal sensitivity value of the rats in electroacupuncture intervention group was significantly decresed (P<0. 01). Compared with model control group, the MCV and SCV of tibial nerve of the rats in medicine intervention group and electroacupuncture intervention group were increased after 12-week-intervention (P<0. 01); compared with before intervention, the MCV and SCV of tibial nerve of the rats in various groups were decreased after 12-week-intervention (P<0. 01). Under transmission electron microscope, some of the myelin sheath lamellae of sciatic nerve of the rats in model control group showed irregular membrane-like mass, and most of the thicker myelinated nerve fibers were seriously involved; the above changes were alleviated in medicine intervention group and electroacupuncture intervention group. The TUNEL assay results showed that compared with model control group, the apoptotic rates of sciatic nerve cells of the rats in medicine intervention group and electroacupuncture intervention group were significantly decreased (P < 0. 01). The Western blotting results showed that compared with model control group, the expression levels of GRP78 in sciatic nerve cells of the rats in medicine intervention group and electroacupuncture intervention group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adjust Zang Dredge Meridian electroacupuncture can reduce the expression level of GRP78 in sciatic nerve cells of the DPN rats, inhibit the occurrence of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), decrease the apoptotic rate of cells, and protect the nerves.