[Effect of acupuncture on target action of ligustrazine in treatment of toxic deafness induced by gentamicin in guinea pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To explore an effective method for treating Gentamicin-induced deafness and the mechanism.


METHODS
Guinea pigs were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control group (group A), model group (group B), Ligustrazine group (group C), acupuncture group (group D) and Ligustrazine plus acupuncture group (group E). The group C, D and E were treated respectively by simple Ligustrazine, simple acupuncture at "Tinggong" (SI 19), "Yifeng" (TE 17), and "Waiguan" (TE 5), and Ligustrazine plus acupuncture. Ten days later, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds for the wave III , apoptosis and expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in the organ of Corti of the guinea pig were detected.


RESULTS
In the group E, the ABR threshold was significantly lower than that in the group C (P<0.05), and apoptotic cells, the expression of Bax protein and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 were lower than those in the group C and D in the organ of Corti, and Bcl-2 protein expression was increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture at "Tinggong" (SI 19), "Yifeng" (TE 17), and "Waiguan" (TE 5) has a certain target-synergistic action on Ligustrazine and can increase therapeutic effect of Ligustrazine on Gentamicin-induced deafness, which are possible related with the inhibition of apoptosis, down-regulation of Bax expression and up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression.
Zheng
Hua-Ping
HP
Deafness Rehabilitation Institute, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China. hpzheng04@yahoo.com.cn
Wang
Feng
F
Xu
Quan-Zhen
QZ
Xu
Fei
F
Zhang
Guo-Jun
GJ
Wang
Peng
P
Wang
Yong-Hua
YH
Liu
Jin-Hong
JH
Fan
Bing-hua
BH
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D003638:Deafness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000633:toxicity*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D011719:Pyrazines; C017953:tetramethylpyrazine