RESUMO
Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on endogenous neural atem cells, as well as learning and memory in rats with cerebral ischemia. Methods One hundred and twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: a normal group, a model group, an EA group, a rTMS group and an EA plus rTMS group. After establishing acute middle cer-ebral artery occlusion, the rats in the various experimental groups were treated with EA, rTMS or EA plus rTMS. The rats' ability to avoid an electric shock was observed using a jumping stand, Immunohistochemical techniques were used to measure the infarct area and the number of Brdu-positive cells. Results A small quantity of Brdu labelled cells was observed in the subgranular zone (SGZ) and the subventricular zone (SVZ) in rats in the normal group. In the EA, rTMS and EA plus rTMS groups, the numbers of Brdu labelled cells in the SVZ and SGZ was significantly higher than in the model group after both 7 and 14 days. The expression of Brdu around the SVZ and SGZ of the 3 treatment groups increased, especially in the EA plus rTMS group. At 7, 14 and 28 d there was significant improve-ment in the neural function and electric shock avoidance test scores in the EA, rTMS and EA plus rTMS groups com-pared with the model group,with the EA plus rTMS animals scoring best. Conclusion EA plus rTMS can promote the proliferation of nerve stem cells, facilitate neurological recovery and improve learning and memory in rats after cerebral ischemia.
