Twenty-four maleSprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group, with eight rats in each group. The middle cerebral arteryischemia-reperfusion model was established by the suture-occluded method in the model group and the EA group, while not in the normal group. The EA group was pretreated with EA at bilateral Fengchi (GB20) before model preparation, once a day for 30 min each time for a total of 7 d. The changes in the CatWalk gaitparameters, modified Bederson neurological deficit score, cerebral blood flow, cerebral infarction volume after ischemia, and VEGF level in the braintissue of rats in each group were observed.
Results:
Compared with the normal group, the modified Bederson neurological deficit score in the model group and the EA group increased after modeling (P<0.05), and the CatWalk gaitparameters (one-leg stance duration, gait cadence, and gait cycle) were all changed (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the modified Bederson neurological deficit score in the EA group decreased (P<0.05), and the CatWalk gaitparameters improved (P<0.05). Immediately after ischemia, the cerebral blood flow in the normal group was greater than that in the model group and the EA group (P<0.05); after reperfusion, the cerebral blood flow in the EA group was greater than that in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the cerebral infarction volume in the model group and the EA group increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the cerebral infarction volume in the EA group decreased (P<0.05). The expression level of VEGF-positive cells in the ratbraintissue in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05), and was higher in the EA group than in the model group (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
EA pretreatment improves the limb motor function in MCAO model rats, alleviates the symptoms of neurological deficits, promotes the recovery of cerebral blood flow, reduces the cerebral infarction area after MCAO modeling, and increases the VEGF expression in the braintissue.