The effects of electro-acupuncturing DU26 (renzhong) on motor cortical excitability and neurofunction after focal cerebral ischemia injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of electro-acupuncturing DU26 (Renzhong) on cortical excitability and neurofunction after focal cerebral ischemia injury.


METHODS
30 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into control group, MCAo group and MCAo+DU26ES group, 10 in each group. Middle Cerebral Artery occlusion models (MCAo) were created in accordance with Zea Longa method and modified method. DC continuous square-wave electric pulse stimuli (2Hz, 3mA) which was given between DU26 and non-acupoint area in the left shoulder, was applied to MCAo+DU26ES group 10 minutes every time, twice a day, while the control group and MCAo group received no treatment. 3 days later transcranial electrical stimulation motor evoked potential (MEP) was recorded, the onset latency and peak-to-peak amplitude were analyzed and the neurological deficits were evaluated. The effects of electro-acupuncturing DU26 (Renzhong) and MCAo injury on these parameters were analyzed.


RESULTS
Given the isointensity suprathreshold stimulus, the latency on the affected side in MCAo group was significantly longer than that in control group (P<0.05), the amplitudes on both sides were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.05); the latencies on both sides in MCAo+DU26ES group tended to become shorter and the amplitudes on both sides tended to increase compared with MCAo group; there were no significant differences on latency and amplitude between the healthy side and the affected side in all groups (P>0.05). The neuro-scores of rats receiving electro-acupuncturing DU26 (Renzhong) were significantly higher than those in MCAo group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Electro-acupuncturing DU26 (Renzhong) can improve the motor cortical excitability, and facilitate the motor function recovery after MCAo injury.
Lin
Han
H
Key Laboratory, University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
Shu
Wang
W
Jinquan
Ma
M
Wenping
Yao
Y
Yan
Shen
S
Xuemin
Shi
S
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*