title: Effect of electroacupuncture on brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression in mouse hippocampus following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This work aims to observe the effects of electroacupuncture on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in mouse hippocampus following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  The models of mouse cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were established. A total of 96 healthy mice were randomly assigned into 4 groups, namely, the sham surgery, model, model + electroacupuncture, and mode + hydergine groups. Mice in the model + electroacupuncture group were treated through electroacupuncture at the Shenshu (BL 23), Geshu (BL 17), and Baihui (GV 20) acupoints. Mice in the model+hydergine group were intragastrically administered with hydergine (0.77 mg/kg(-1) x day(-1)). The levels of BDNF mRNA expressions in the hippocampus were ana lyzed through a semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay on days 1 and 7 after the surgeries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BDNF mRNA expressions in the mouse hippocampus of the model group on days 1 and 7 after the surgery were higher than those of the sham surgery group (both P < 0.01). On days 1 and 7 of the electroacupuncture treatment, BDNF mRNA expression in the mouse hippocampus of the model + electroacupuncture group was significantly elevated compared with the model group (both P < 0.01) or the model + hydergine group (both P < 0.01). On days 1 and 7 of the hydergine treatment, BDNF mRNA expression in the mouse hippocampus of the model + hydergine group tended to increase compared with the model group; however, statistical significance was not achieved (both P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroacupuncture treatment enhances endogenous BDNF expression, which may improve the survival environment for intracerebral neurons and inhibit the apoptosis of hippocampal cells.
authors.affiliation: The Third Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Huazhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuanxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Manxiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hongling
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger