title: Electroacupuncture promotes post-stroke functional recovery via enhancing endogenous neurogenesis in mouse focal cerebral ischemia.
abstract: To investigate the question of whether electroacupuncture (EA) promotes functional recovery via enhancement of proliferation and differentiation of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) in ischemic stroke, EA stimulation with 2 Hz was applied at bilateral acupoints to Baihui (GV20) and Dazhui (GV14) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mice. EA stimulation improved neuromotor function and cognitive ability after ischemic stroke. EA stimulation resulted in an increase in the number of proliferated cells, especially in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the ipsilateral hemisphere. Although a very limited number of NSCs survived and differentiated into neurons or astrocytes, EA treatment resulted in a significant increase in the number of proliferative cells and differentiated cells in the hippocampus and SVZ of the ipsilateral hemisphere compared to MCAO mice. EA stimulation resulted in significantly increased mRNA expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Protein levels of these factors were confirmed in the ipsilateral hippocampus and SVZ by immunohistochemical and Western blotting analyses. Expression of phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, BDNF, and VEGF-mediated down-stream were enhanced by EA stimulation in newly formed neuroblasts. These results indicate that EA treatment after ischemic stroke may promote post-stroke functional recovery by enhancement of proliferation and differentiation of NSCs via the BDNF and VEGF signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Ri
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ha Neui
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, College of Oriental Medicine, Dongeui University, Busan, Yangjeong, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwa Kyoung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Yangsan, Republic of Korea ; Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, Gyeongnam, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Tae
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology; D055495:Neurogenesis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors