Electroacupuncture enhances motor recovery performance with brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in rats with cerebral infarction.
OBJECTIVE
Electroacupuncture (EA) is a traditional medicine in patients with post-stroke rehabilitation. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a potent growth factor involved in recovery following cerebral injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether EA increases BDNF levels and facilitates functional recovery.


METHODS
Occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was performed in rats (N=12) followed by reperfusion. EA was applied at the GV20 (Baihui) acupoint. Motor and sensory functions were monitored on the Garcia scale for 2 weeks. Expressions of BDNF and receptor tyrosine kinase B (trkB) were determined by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Improvement of Garcia scores, particularly in motor performance, were noted in the group with EA stimulation (p<0.05). With EA application, BDNF was elevated in the ischaemic hemisphere with increased numbers of BDNF(+) cells. Increased expression of trkB was also detected.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that EA at GV20 improves motor recovery and stimulates BDNF/trkB expression in rats with cerebral ischaemia.
Institute of Catholic Integrative Medicine, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University, Seoul, Korea.
Min-Wook
MW
Kim
You Chul
YC
Chung
Hee Chan
HC
Jung
Moon-Seo
MS
Park
Young-Min
YM
Han
Yong-An
YA
Chung
Lee-So
LS
Maeng
Sang-In
SI
Park
Jiyeon
J
Lim
Woo-Seok
WS
Im
Jin Young
JY
Chung
Minky
M
Kim
Inhee
I
Mook
Manho
M
Kim
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor