[Effect of electroacupuncture on the permeability of blood-brain barrier for nerve growth factor and its relevance to PKC pathway in cerebral ischemia rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Yamen" (GV 15) on the permeability of blood-brain barrier for exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) and its relevance to PKC pathway in cerebral ischemia (CI) rats.


METHODS
Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into sham-operation (sham), model, NGF, EA, NGF + EA, and NGF + H7 + EA groups. CI model was established by repeated occlusion of the bilateral carotid arteries and reperfusion. NGF (10 microg/kg) was administrated by intravenous injection (vena caudalis); while H 7 [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-mehtylpoperazine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), 1 mg/kg] was given by intraperitoneal injection. EA (100 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Yamen" (GV 15) for 20 min. NGF content in the brain tissue was assayed by enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
In comparison with sham group, cerebral NGF content had no apparent change in model group (P > 0.05). Comparison among the abovementioned 6 groups showed that cerebral NGF level in NGF + EA group was significantly higher than those in sham, model, EA and NGF groups (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found among sham, model, NGF, EA and NGF+ H7 + EA groups and between NGF + EA and NGF + H7 + EA groups in cerebral NGF contents (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EA of GV 20 and GV 15 can raise the permeability of blood-brain barrier for NGF to increase its level in the cerebral tissue in CI rats, favoring the regeneration and repair of nerves, which has no clear relevance to PKC pathway.
Lin
Xian-Ming
XM
Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, China. linxianming66@126.com
Tan
Ke-Ping
KP
Zhang
Ai-Jun
AJ
He
Li-Hua
LH
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D011493:Protein Kinase C