[Protective effect of low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis against focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis against brain damage after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats.


METHODS
Sixty-nine SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, including normal group, sham operation group, model group, electro-acupuncture group and low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis group (LLLI group). The cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model was established by thread embolism of middle cerebral artery. The rats in the LLLI group, as well as the electro-acupuncture group were given treatment as soon as the occlusion finished (0 hour) and 12, 24 hours after the occlusion. We observed the changes of neurological deficit scores and the body weight of the rats at different time. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the ratos brain tissue were tested.


RESULTS
The neurological deficit score of the LLLI group was significantly lower than that of the model group. The body weight and the activity of SOD of the rats decreased slightly, and the content of MDA decreased significantly after the treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The low-level laser irradiation on acupuncture points combined with iontophoresis can prevent focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. One of its mechanisms may be increasing the activity of SOD and decreasing the damage of the oxidation products to the body.
Dai
Ju-Yun
JY
Acupuncture Clinic, Institute of Qigong, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China. djysh2002@yahoo.com.cn
Ge
Lin-Bao
LB
Zhou
Yan-Li
YL
Wang
Lin
L
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000628:therapy*; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000379:methods; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase