Effects of Acupoint Catgut Embedding on Motor Function in Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Rats / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objectives:To investigate the effect of acupoint catgut embedding on motor function of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and explore its possible mechanism. Methods:A total of 48 three-month old healthy specified pathogen free male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups with 16 rats in each group. The right external carotid artery was severed only in sham operation group. Right middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced for 90 minutes under isoflurane anesthesia using a monofilament in model group and acupoint catgut embedding group. Ninety minutes after reperfusion, the acupoint catgut embedding group accepted acupoint catgut embedding on Baihui (DU20) acupoint and anterior oblique line of vertex-temporal. After one, three, seven and 14 days of reperfusion, they were assessed with Neurological Evaluation and Screen Prehensile Test. After 14 days of reperfusion, the infarct volume was measured with TTC staining; the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Synapsin I was detected with immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and reverse transcription real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results:Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological score significantly decreased (t > 11.851, P < 0.001), the prehensile time significantly decreased (t > 6.190, P < 0.001), the expression of GFAP increased (P < 0.05), and the expression of Synapsin I decreased (P < 0.05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the neurological score significantly increased (t > 3.464, P < 0.001), the prehensile time significantly increased (t > 3.642, P < 0.001), the cerebral infarction volume significantly decreased (F = 93.426, P < 0.001), the expression of GFAP decreased (P < 0.05), and the expression of Synapsin I increased (P < 0.05) in the acupoint catgut embedding group. Conclusion:Acupoint catgut embedding could promote the recovery of motor function of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, which may be related with inhibiting the proliferation of astrocytes, increasing the regeneration of axons in the ischemic penumbra and enhancing synaptic connection.