Effect of“Warming Yang and Nourishing Qi”Acupuncture on acetylcholine receptor protein expression in neuromuscular j unction of rats with EAMG

Xichen WANG; Aihua SHEN; Yinghua HU; Hongfeng WANG

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To study the influence of “Warming Yang and Nourishing Qi”Acupuncture in the expression levels of acetylcholine receptor protein (AchR)in gastrocnemius neuromuscular junction (NMJ)of the rats with experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG),and to clarify the mechanism of “Warming Yang and Nourishing Qi”Acupucture in the treatment myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods:

The female Lewis rats were used to establish the EAMG rat models immuned with AchRα1 129-145 polypeptide fragments.30 EAMG rats were selected randomly and divided into model control group, drug control group, and acupuncture treatment group (n=10),and another 10 rats purchased at the same period were used as blank control group.The rats in drug control group were treated with 1 8.5 mg · kg-1 · d-1 pyridostigmine by gavage. And the rats in acupuncture treatment group were treated with irritating by“Warming Yang and Nourishing Qi”Acupuncture.The rats in blank control group and model control group were not treated .The Lennon symptom scores of the rats in various groups were recorded.After treatment,the tissues of gastrocnemius NMJ of the rats were taken,and the AchR protein expression levels in NMJ of the rats in various groups were detected by Western blotting method.

Results:

Compared with blank control group,after successfully modelling,the Lennon symptom scores of the rats in model control group, drug control group and acupuncture treatment group before treatment were significantly increased (P<0.01).Compared with model control group,the Lennon symptom scores of the rats in drug control group and acupuncture treatment group after two treatment course were significantly increased (P<0.01 ). Compared with blank control group, the AchR protein expression level in gastronemus NMJ of the rats in model control group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with model control group, the AchR protein expression levels in gastronemus NMJ of the rats in acupuncture treatment group and drug control group after treatment were significantly increased (P<0.01).

Conclusion:

“Warming Yang and Nourishing Qi”Acupuncture has good therapeutic effect on the EAMG through increasing the NMJ AchR protein expression level of the EAMG rats.