Effects of electroacupuncture at the conception vessel on proliferation and differentiation of nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia rats.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at the Conception Vessel on proliferation and differentiation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in cerebral ischemia rats.


METHODS
The model rats were prepared by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2 hours and then by reperfusion. They were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an EA group. Changes in differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells were observed 7, 14 and 28 days after successful modeling.


RESULTS
As compared with the 7-day control group (C-7d group), there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the numbers of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (Brdu) positive cells, Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin and Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the EA group 7 days after modeling. However, in the 14-day EA group (R-14d group) and the 28-day EA group (R-28d group), the numbers of Brdu positive cells and Brdu/GFAP, Brdu/Nestin, Brdu/Nse double-labeled cells significantly increased as compared respectively with the 14-day control (C-14d group) and the 28-day control (C-28d) group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
EA at the Conception Vessel promotes differentiation and proliferation of the nerve stem cells in the inferior zone of the lateral ventricle in the cerebral ischemia rats, and may stimulate differentiation of the proliferous nerve stem cells towards the astrocytes.
Yang
Zhuoxin
Z
Shenzhen Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong 518033, China.
Yu
Haibo
H
Rao
Xiaodan
X
Liu
Yuansheng
Y
Pi
Min
M
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D020547:Lateral Ventricles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*