title: [Influence of electroacupuncture on spinal TNF-alpha and IL-6 contents in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury rabbits].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST 36)-"Quchi" (LI 11) on behavior changes and spinal inflammatory reactions in spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (SI/RI) rabbits, so as to assess its protective effect on SI/RI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into sham-operation (sham), SI/RI model (model) and EA groups. SI/RI model was established by occlusion of the abdominal aorta for 45 min. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36)-"Quchi" (LI 11) for 30 min after modeling, 4 times (0 h, 12 h, 24 h and 36 h after modeling) altogether. The animals' motor function score of the hindlimb was assessed according to Tarlov's method. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) of the lumbar spinal cord tissue were assayed by ELISA 48 h after modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the sham group, the animals' motor scores at 24 h and 48 h after modeling were decreased, and spinal TNF-alpha and IL-6 contents were increased significantly (all P < 0.05) in the model group. In comparison with the model group, the animals' motor scores at both 24 h and 48 h were up-regulated considerably in the EA group (P < 0.05), suggesting an improvement of the neuronal function after EA intervention. The spinal TNF-alpha and IL-6 contents were obviously lower in the EA group than in the model group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroacupuncture has a protective effect on the spinal cord ischemia- reperfusion injury of rabbits probably by reducing the local inflammatory reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China. huozejun@163.com
authors.forename: Ze-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Die
authors.forename: Ji-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha