Effects of electroacupuncture pretreatment on expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in cortical neurons in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury / 中华麻醉学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) in cortical neurons in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods Forty-five adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 280-320 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =15 each):sham operation group,I/R group and EA pretreatment group.Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 120 min,followed by 24 h of reperfusion.EA of Baihui acupoint lasting 30 min was performed and then the model of focal cerebral I/R was established 24 h later in EA group.Neurological function was assessed and scored at 24 h of reperfusion.The rats were then sacrificed and brains removed for detection of the cerebral infarct volume and expression of pSTAT3 (Ser727) in cortical neurons in ischemic penumbra by immunofluorescence and Western blot.Results Compared with sham operation group,the neurological function score was decreased,the infarct volume was increased,and the expression of pSTAT3 (Ser727) was up-regulated in groups I/R and EA (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with I/R group,neurological function score was increased,the infarct volume was decreased,and the expression of pSTAT3 (Ser727) was up-regulated in group EA (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion EA pretreatment reduces focal cerebral I/R injury through up-regulating pSTAT3 expression in cortical neurons in rats.