[Effects of electroacupuncture of "governor vessel" acupoints on changes of BDNF in the cortical motor area of mice with spinal cord transection].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate effects of electroacupuncture of "Governor Vessel" acupoints on changes of brain erived neurotrophic facotr (BDNF) in the cortex area of mice with spinal cord transection (SCT).


METHODS
GFP mices were made spinal cord transection between T9 and T10, and then divided into electroacupuncture group (EA group) and control group; mices of EA group had be given EA from 1 day postoperation to 14 day postoperation, however, mices of control group had only SCT. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, RT-PCR and ELISA were performed to observe changes of BDNF in the cortical motor area of EA and control group.


RESULTS
At 28 d postoperation the protein expression of BDNF in the cortex area of EA group and control group was (1973.41 +/- 194.71) pg/kg and (1615.22 +/- 137.21) pg/kg respectively, and there was statistical difference between them (P < 0.05). However, there was no obvious different in expression of BDNF mRNA in the cortex area between EA and control group (P > 0.05). The positive products of BDNF mRNA and protein were mainly located in neurons in the cortex area.


CONCLUSIONS
EA in "Governor Vessel" can effectively induce the increases of BDNF protein in the cortex area which may be helpful to understand the mechanism of EA in the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Department of Histology and Embryology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Xiang-Fei
XF
Zhang
Yu
Y
Zou
Ya
Y
Zhao
Ting-Hua
TH
Wang
Wei
W
Zhang
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger