[Effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and glial fibrillary acidic protein after spinal cord injury in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.


METHODS
Forty-five male SD rats were randomized into control, model and EA groups with 15 cases in each group which was further divided into 3 subgroups (3 d, 7 d and 14 d) at average. SCI (T10) model was duplicated by using modified Allen's method. EA (2 Hz, 2-6 mA) was applied to bilateral "Jiaji" [EX-B 2, superior and inferior to the injured locus (T10)] for 30 min, continuously for 3 days, 7 days and 14 days respectively in different subgroups. Changes of SCI rats' behavior (hind-limb motor) were detected by using Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scoring scale. The immuno-reaction (IR) activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in gray matter of the injured cord was determined using immunohistochemical technique on day 3, 7 and 14 separately.


RESULTS
Compared with control group, BBB scores of model and EA groups were significantly lower in the 3 subgroups (P < 0.01); while in comparison with the 3 subgroups of model group, BBB scores of the corresponding time in EA group were significantly higher (P < 0.01). Compared with control group, IR-positive cells of both EGFR and GFAP in model and EA groups increased remarkably at the 3 time-points in number (P < 0.01); while those of EGFR and GFAP of EA group were significantly fewer than those of model group at the 3 time-points (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
EA can effectively improve SCI rats' hind-limb locomotor, which may be closely related to its functions in suppressing the expression of EGFR and GFAP in the injured spinal cord and in promoting nerve axon regeneration.
Peng
Bin
B
Department of Neurobiology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Meng
Xian-fang
XF
Li
Man
M
Luo
Yi
Y
Li
Ling-li
LL
Zhang
Jing
J
Liu
Xiao-chun
XC
Shi
Jing
J
Chen
Feng
F
D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D066246:ErbB Receptors