ABSTRACT
Background and aim: In China, acupuncture and moxibustion have been used effectively to treat various diseases for thousands of years. However, the evidence for a difference in the efficacies of moxibustion and acupuncture in cerebral infarction treatment is scarce. We aimed to compare the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment on the Nogo/NgR signaling pathway in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Experimental procedure: Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, based on treatment received: sham surgery (sham group), middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO, MCAO group), MCAO and NEP(1-40) inhibitor injection (MCAO + block group), MCAO and moxibustion (MCAO + moxi group), and MCAO and minimal acupuncture (MCAO + MA group). Neurological status was evaluated before treatment, and cerebral infarction volume (IV) and neurological function; Nogo-A, NgR, p75NTR, and LINGO-1 expressions; and NgR and LINGO-1 co-expression were assessed after treatment. Results and conclusion: After treatment, barring Nogo-A mRNA and protein expression in the MCAO + block group, the Longa score and IV significantly decreased; Nogo-A, NgR, p75NTR, and LINGO-1 mRNA and protein expressions as well as NgR and LINGO-1 co-expression significantly decreased in cerebral tissues; whereas the BWT score increased (P < 0.01) in the MCAO + moxi group, compared with the MCAO group. Except for NgR and LINGO-1 protein expressions, there were no significant differences in the abovementioned parameters between rats that underwent acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture and moxibustion have similar effects on Nogo/NgR signaling pathway inhibition after cerebral infarction.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the changes of gene and protein expression through Rho/ROCK signaling pathway in EA treated spinal cord injury (SCI) rats and to unveil the possible underlying mechanism.Design: Animal study.Setting: Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Participants: Eighty Male Sprague Dawley rats.Interventions: Electroacupuncture at Yaoyangguan (GV3), Dazhui (GV14), Zusanli (ST36) and Ciliao (BL32) and/or blocking agent Y27632 treatment.Outcome Measures: Protein expression was detected by ELISA and Western blotting, mRNA expression was detected by quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization. Morphological changes in spinal cord were evaluated by HE-staining and Nissl staining. Hindlimb motor function in the rats was evaluated by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) assessment methods.Results: Compared with injured rats in SCI group, EA, blocking agent Y27632 and EA + blocking agent Y27632 treatment had significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of RhoA and ROCKII, decreased p-MLC protein expression and p-MLC/MLC ratio, suppressed cPLA2 activity and PGE2 level, improved spinal cord tissue morphology and BBB score of lower limb movement function at 7 days and at 14 days (P < 0.01 or <0.05).Conclusion: Similar to the blocking agent Y27632, EA may have a notable inhibitory effect on the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway after SCI, therefore reducing the inhibition of axonal growth and inflammatory reaction may be a key mechanism of EA treatment for SCI.
Subject(s)
Electroacupuncture , Signal Transduction , Spinal Cord Injuries , rho GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism , rho-Associated Kinases/metabolism , Animals , Male , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Spinal Cord , Spinal Cord Injuries/therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of vertebral manipulation (VM) therapy on vertebro-basilar artery (VBA) blood flow in patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CS-VAT) by transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonic examination. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients with CS-VAT were randomized into the VM group (n = 100) and the acupuncture group (n = 50), and treated for ten times as one therapeutic course. Changes of the contraction peak, the end-diastolic and average blood flow velocity of VBA before and after treatment in the two groups were observed and compared by TCD. RESULTS: Vp, Vd, Vm of LVA, RVA and BA in the two groups after treatment were all lowered, showing significant difference, excepting Vp of VBA in the acupuncture group, when compared with before treatment (P< 0.05 or P <0.01). Comparison between the two groups after treatment showed significant difference in Vp and Vm of LVA, Vp, Vd and Vm of RVA, Vp and Vm of VBA respectively (P<0.05, P <0.01). CONCLUSION: VM therapy in treating patients with CS-VAT shows therapeutic effect superior to VA therapy, which could significantly improve VBA blood flow.
