[Effect of electroacupuncture stimulation of "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) on expression of COX-2 and tyrosine hydroxylase in Substantia Nigra in rats with Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins of Substantia Nigra cells(SNc) in the rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease(PD) rats, so as to explore the mechanism of EA underlying improvement of PD. METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into normal, sham-operation (sham), model and EA groups (n = 10/group). The PD model was established by successive subcutaneous injection of rotenone (highly selective lesions of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons) for 28 days. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 20 min, once daily for 14 days. The expression levels of TH and COX-2 proteins in the Substantia Nigra of midbrain were detected with Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the expression level of TH protein in the model group was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and that of COX-2 protein in the model group was significantly increased (P < 0.01). After the EA treatment, the expression level of TH in the EA group was obviously upregulated (P < 0.01), and that of COX-2 protein in the EA group was considerably down-regulated (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between the normal and sham groups in the expression levels of TH and COX-2 proteins (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA therapy can decrease inflammation mediator COX-2 protein expression and upregulate TH protein expression in the Substantia Nigra of midbrain in PD rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving PD in clinic.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of GDNF and Ret in Parkinson's disease model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy on Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-operation group, a model group, a Fengfu-Taichong group and a Shuanggu Yitong group. PD model was duplicated by microinjection of 6-Hydroxyl-Dopamine into right corpora striata, and by microinjection of normal saline in sham-operation group. Rats in normal group, sham-operation group and model group were not treated. In Fengfu-Taichong group, the rats were treated by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) on the basis of the PD model, and by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16), "Taichong" (LR 3), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in Shuanggu Yitong group, once daily for 2 weeks. GDNF and Ret expression were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: The number of GDNF positive cells and the content of Ret receptor increased significantly in the two electroacupuncture groups compared with those in the other groups (all P < 0.01), and the expression of GDNF increased significantly in Shuanggu Yitong group compared with that in Fengfu-Taichong group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can not only increase the expression of GDNF, but also enhance its effect. "Shuanggu Yitong" method is better than simple acupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) in increasing expression of GDNF.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on morphological changes and apoptosis of substantia nigra cells in Parkinson's disease rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Fengfu" (GV16) and "Taichong" (LR3) on morphological changes and apoptotic percentage of substantia nigra cells so as to explore its underlying mechanism in relieving Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, sham-operation (sham), model and EA groups, with 10 rats in each. The Parkinson's disease model was established by micro-injection of 6-hydroxyl-dopamine (6-OHDA) into the right striatum. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to "Fengfu"(GV16) and "Taichong" (LR3) for 30 min, once daily for 2 weeks. HE staining, Nissl staining and immunohistochemical staining were conducted for observing the morphological changes of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum, and the tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) immuno-reaction (IR) positive neurons and nerve fibers. The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared to the normal control and sham groups, the total number of TH-IR positive neurons and Nissl-stained cells, and OD value of TH-IR positive nerve fibers in the SNc on the 6-OHDA-lesioned side were significantly lower in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the aforementioned 3 indexes of the EA group were increased obviously (P < 0.01). The percentage of apoptosis of SNc on the 6-OHDA-lesioned side was obviously lower in the EA group than in the model group (P < 0.01), but still obviously higher than in the normal group and sham group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture therapy can significantly increase the number of neurons of substantia nigra and the density of striatum nerve fibers,and reduce the apoptotic percentage of substantia nigra cells in the Parkinsonian rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving Parkinson's disease.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on behaviors and dopaminergic neurons in the rat of Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of electroacupuncture (EA) for prevention of the injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a sham-operation group and an EA group. 6-OH-DA was injected into right substantia nigra of the midbrain to made Parkinson's disease rat model with single side substantia nigra injury, and TH/TUNEL method and rotation behavior observation method were used to observe changes of rotation behavior and apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra after EA at "Taichong" (LR 3) and "Fengfu" (GV 16) for 3 d, 7 d and 14 d. RESULTS: The rotation times/min were same at 3 d, 7 d and 14 d were the basically same in the model group, and at 14 d significantly decreased in the EA group (P<0.05); the rotation starting time at 7 d and 14 d in the model group were significantly longer than those in the EA group (P<0.05); the rotation lasting time at 3 d, 7 d and 14 d in the model group and the EA group were gradually shortened (P<0.01, or P<0.05), but at 7 d, 14 d in the model group were significantly longer than those in the EA group (P<0.05); the DA neuron apoptosis number in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, with a very significant difference (P<0.01); the apoptosis number in the EA group tended to decrease, at 7 d and 14 d were significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can effectively prevent from injury of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat with Parkinson's disease.